Looking after your green bin or caddy

Part of: Food and garden waste

Contents

It's important to look after your green bin or caddy between collections. 

How to avoid maggots, flies, and smells

  • Don't leave food waste uncovered inside your house.
  • Keep your green bin lid fully closed and, if possible, out of direct sunlight.
  • Try to remove moisture from food waste before it goes into the green bin, for example, by draining peelings.
  • If you're using compostable bags for your food waste, squeeze the air out once they are full. This will reduce smells by slowing down the rate of decomposition.

Cleaning your green bin

You can wash your green bin by putting it on its side and using a mop or hosepipe. Make sure the drain you are using is a foul sewer drain and not a surface water drain. 

Rinse water must not be discarded on open land.

Home composting

Our home composting pages have information about how to compost at home.

Fish, meat, dairy, and plate leftovers aren't suitable for home composting. You should put these items in your green bin for food waste.