From 28 March Sandwell’s food waste collections will restart across the borough after the service was suspended during the pandemic.

Councillor Ahmad Bostan, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “With the return of food waste collections, Sandwell residents can use their food waste bins to help the environment and save money.

“Collected food waste will be turned into fertiliser and energy, which is better for the environment.

“And by using your food waste bin, you’ll be able to see how much and what types of food you and your family are throwing away.

“This will help you identify where you can make changes to your shopping list and save money on your grocery bill.”

Residents can recycle all types of food waste including meal leftovers, fruit and vegetable peel/vegetable peelings or just peelings, meat and fish bones, stale bread and cakes plus uneaten pet food and tea bags.

A full list of items can be found on the website: sandwell.gov.uk/foodwaste.

Food can be placed into an indoor kitchen caddy, or alterative container, before putting it/placing into the outside brown handled container/bin. Caddies can be kept clean by using compostable bin liners available at all major retailers.

Alternatively, newspaper or kitchen roll can be used to line the bin.