Barnet’s food waste collections reach 100 tonnes weekly after Labour restart
Two million collections recorded since March 2026, with 17 fox-related spillage complaints reported
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Higher is stronger
Headline overstates impact; 'real success' lacks evidence.
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Barnet Council’s food waste collections have reached more than 100 tonnes every week since April 2026. The service, reintroduced by the Labour administration in March, has recorded two million collections across the borough. Households received brown kitchen caddies and outdoor bins for weekly pickups.
The scheme was originally scrapped in 2018 by the Conservative administration, which estimated annual savings of £300,000. At the time, the Mayor of London had advised retaining the service, but the council proceeded with the cut, as reported by the Barnet Post.
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Spillages remain rare, council says
Since the service restarted, only 17 complaints about fox-related spillages have been logged. Barnet Council stated that collection crews clear spillages during their rounds. For incidents on public land, residents can report them to the council’s street cleansing response team.
Alan Schneiderman, Labour cabinet member for environment and climate change, said the Conservatives had “lacked drive for the borough” by ending the service. He told the Barnet Post: “We will always remain ambitious for Barnet, and want to improve the service residents get.”
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We will always remain ambitious for Barnet, and want to improve the service residents get. That is why we were so proud to bring back weekly food waste collections, and they have been a real success, while keeping unwanted animals at bay.
Alan Schneiderman, Barnet Council cabinet member for environment and climate change
What happens next
The service continues on its weekly schedule. Residents can report missed collections or spillages via the council’s website or by contacting the street cleansing team. No changes to the current collection routes or frequencies have been announced.
Questions this report answers
+How much food waste is Barnet collecting each week?
Barnet Council reports collecting over 100 tonnes of food waste weekly since April 2026. The service restarted in March 2026 after being scrapped in 2018. Two million collections have been recorded since its reintroduction.
+How many complaints about fox spillages have there been?
Barnet Council has received 17 complaints about fox-related spillages since the food waste service restarted in March 2026. Crews clear spillages during rounds, and a street cleansing team handles incidents on public land.
+Why was the food waste service scrapped in 2018?
The Conservative administration scrapped Barnet’s food waste service in 2018 to save £300,000 annually. The decision went against advice from the Mayor of London to retain the service, as reported by the Barnet Post.
+What should residents do if they see a spillage?
Residents can report food waste spillages on public land to Barnet Council’s street cleansing response team. Collection crews also clear spillages during their rounds. Complaints can be made via the council’s website.
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