The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership met to discuss the rollout of segregated food waste collections, review partnership performance, and consider the forward plan. The partnership was scheduled to discuss progress made on the food waste project, including infrastructure upgrades and communications strategies. Members were also expected to review key performance indicators related to waste management and recycling.

Food Waste Update

The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership was scheduled to receive an update on the implementation of segregated food waste collections and disposal, in accordance with the government's simpler recycling initiative and the Environment Act 2021¹. The update was to cover:

• A review of food waste project progress to date
• The joint strategic communications budget
• Waste Disposal Authority infrastructure progress
• A road map for project delivery

According to the report pack, the partnership has been working to meet its obligations for changes to waste collections. The Food Waste Project Group, comprised of officers from each authority, was formed to co-ordinate activities and ensure an effective strategy for segregated food waste collections.

The report pack states that the first milestone was securing £9.6 million of capital funding through Lincolnshire County Council's capital programme to modify and develop the county's Waste Transfer Stations. Lincolnshire County Council also secured a five-year contract with BioteCH4, who operate an Anaerobic Digestion facility at Hemswell Cliff and in March, Cambridgeshire.

In October 2024, the Food Waste Project Group recommended a consistent approach for caddy sizes and colours, which was endorsed by the Partnership. A food waste caddy trial was undertaken with 100 volunteers to understand behaviours and customer experience. In December 2024, the Partnership concluded a joint procurement exercise to purchase the caddies. Lincolnshire residents will receive a 5 litre grey indoor caddy along with a 23 litre black caddy with an orange lid for outdoor kerbside presentation.

The report pack also notes that in June 2025, each member of the LWP agreed to jointly fund a full time post for a Strategic Communications Officer to drive, lead and manage the Strategic Communications Plan.

The Strategic Communications Plan highlighted the need for a combined budget to produce effective material, advertising, and messaging. The LWP Strategic Communications Officer, through the Food Waste Project Group and the LWP Communications Group, provided a recommendation to maximise coverage whilst managing an effective budget. The total budget required was £8,000 per authority. Lincolnshire County Council agreed to match fund this amount, even though they were not eligible for New Burdens funding². Since the last LWP meeting in July 2025, Lincolnshire County Council commenced construction at Grantham Waste Transfer Station to undertake the required modifications to accept Food Waste. Works were due to be commissioned from 29 September and completed on 7 October. Upon completion of Grantham WTS modifications, works will commence at Boston WTS in October, followed by Sleaford WTS in January 2026, Louth WTS in March 2026 and lastly Gainsborough WTS in June 2026.

Discussions were continuing with multiple landowners in the 'Greater' Lincoln area for the construction of a new waste transfer station to accommodate the City of Lincoln's and some of North Kesteven's collections. An interim waste transfer station has been secured for use by the City of Lincoln and northern areas of North Kesteven, located in South Hykeham.

The report pack included a table establishing the road map for delivery of segregated food waste collections for the LWP, described as a 'live' document that would continue to be updated.

The recommendation to the LWP was to note the progress to date and continue to support the implementation of segregated food waste collection and disposal across Lincolnshire.

Appendix A of the report pack contained a strategic communications budget allocation breakdown.

Global Media proposed two digital audio radio campaigns to raise awareness. The first would launch around 1 October and run for six months continuously, promoting across Lincolnshire via all Global stations (Capital, Heart), podcasts, and music streaming platforms such as Deezer. The second would target specific postcodes and households through connected devices. The reach for the radio campaign per week was estimated at 115,000 to 119,000.

Four animation videos could be used in several ways from social media, school engagement, community events, online advertisement and more.

Homepage takeovers including targeted social media ads (Lincolnshire World, Lincolnshire Live, local sites) and video promotional targeted adverts via Lincolnshire Live social platforms (Facebook & Instagram) were also proposed.

The report pack also mentioned 200,000 mobile skin digital display adverts on the network targeted to the desired audience on a range of sites to Lincolnshire homeowners IP addresses and In Your Area advert local postcode marketing on users timelines targeting Lincolnshire, monthly audience 41,200 people.

The report pack also mentioned branded materials, engagement materials, and advertising in County News.

Performance Update

The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership was scheduled to discuss its performance against key performance indicators.

The report included figures calculated using data received up to the end of Quarter 1 (June 2025).

The report pack stated that in terms of the main waste streams:

• Green waste 2024/25 has seen less tonnage than in 2023/24 although a slightly higher volume than in Summer 2022 when there was a reduction presented for composting following a fall last year in that period due to extreme weather conditions.
• The quantity of dry recyclables presented this year has decreased slightly from the previous year.
• There has been a slight decrease in non-recyclable waste in comparison to 2024/25.

The report also included information on key performance indicators:

• Household Waste Collection (kilograms per household)
• Recycling rate of waste from households (percentage)

The report pack stated that all the waste handled by the LWP in 2024/25, only 0.54% was sent to landfill. This trend has continued in Q1 of 2025/26 with only 0.06% for this quarter being sent to landfill and a forecast for the full year currently of 0.46%.

The report also included information on recycling quality, measured by contamination and quality.

The recommendation to the LWP was to note the charts and commentary provided.

Lincolnshire Waste Partnership Forward Plan

The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership was scheduled to discuss its forward plan for 2025-26.

The following items were scheduled:

• Partner Updates
• Performance Update
• Food Waste Update
• Forward Plan

The following items were listed to be scheduled:

• Flexible Plastic Recycling
• Reuse Projects at Household Waste Recycling Centres
• South Kesteven Waste Collection Service Improvement Recognition
• Local Government Reorganisation and Waste Management
• Regulations Update including Emissions Trading Scheme