WRAP Cymru say that the ‘yuck factor’ (or ‘ych-a-fi factor’ in Wales) is the biggest reason why people aren’t recycling their food waste.
However, what many people don’t realise is that recycling food waste actually creates fewer smells and is more hygienic than putting it in the bin…remember, the content of our food waste caddies is collected every week, whilst our non-recyclable waste isn’t.
Even so, we know in warmer months food caddies can sometimes get a bit whiffy, but there are plenty of things you can do to help avoid this.
Tips to avoid a stinky food caddy
• Empty the liner more frequently in warmer weather
Simply put, if it’s warm the contents of your food caddy will start to smell faster than they would in colder months. Try to empty it more regularly when it’s hot.
• Clean/disinfect the caddy regularly
Like any bin you own, your caddy will need a bit of TLC too. Try to clean it regularly, especially when it’s warm.
• Sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda in the bottom of the caddy
Bicarbonate soda is a great way to neutralise odours quickly, so if you have some sitting in your cupboard then you might want to dash a bit in the bottom of your caddy.
• Wipe up any drips straight away
Sometimes drips are unavoidable, but making sure you mop them up swiftly will help prevent any smells.
• Keep the kitchen caddy out of direct sunlight
Finding a cool place to store your caddy, away from any direct sunlight will be a big help.
• Keep the lid closed
Keeping the lid closed will keep flies away and stop smells from travelling around the room, so if you don’t already, try to get into the habit of closing the lid.
• Don’t overfill your liner
A common problem seems to be caddy liners splitting, and one of the best ways to prevent this from happening is to make sure you don’t overfill them.
• Take your kitchen caddy outside when transferring waste
Another useful tip is to carry your food waste outside in your kitchen caddy once you’re ready to transfer it to the bigger kerbside caddy. This helps to prevent splitting and spillages.
Hopefully you’re now on board and ready to recycle your food waste. Need a caddy and liners? No worries, you can get both for free.
Order a new caddy
We offer free replacement kitchen and kerbside caddies, so if you need one, don’t sweat it – you just need to order a new one.
You can request a new food caddy easily on our website, where you can also order new recycling boxes if you need them.
We offer free caddy liners
You can get our free caddy liners by simply tying an empty liner to your caddy handle on your collection day and the recycling crew will leave you a new roll.
Or, if you prefer, you can collect the free caddy liners (as well as replacement blue sacks) at a variety of locations in Wrexham, including a number of convenience stores, estate offices, libraries and recycling centres.
For more info on recycling in Wrexham, please visit wrexham.gov.uk/recycling
When are my bins collected? Check your bin day and sign up for reminders.
