Food Waste Collection in Glasgow
Sealed food waste bins and regular collections for Glasgow restaurants, cafés, hotels and other food businesses.
- Licensed local partners across Skip Hire Glasgow
- Waste paperwork provided with every job
- Free, no-obligation quotes
Glasgow’s food and drink scene – from Merchant City restaurants to Finnieston bars and Southside cafés – produces a lot of food waste. In Scotland, food businesses producing more than 5kg of food waste a week must have it collected separately from other waste.
Skips Glasgow arranges food waste bins and scheduled collections through Waste Cloud’s network of licensed local partners. Food waste is sent for treatment such as anaerobic digestion or composting rather than going to landfill.
A food waste bin usually works alongside your general waste and recycling. See our commercial bin hire page for the full picture.
Collections are available across Glasgow and surrounding areas. Call 0333 121 1056 to discuss your kitchen’s needs.
Your obligations as a food business
The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require food businesses producing over 5kg of food waste a week to present it for separate collection. That includes restaurants, cafés, takeaways, hotels, pubs serving food, canteens and food retailers. Food waste should not be mixed into general waste or disposed of to the sewer.
Even if you are close to the threshold, separating food waste is good practice and can reduce what goes in your general waste bin.
It can also lower the weight and odour of your general bins.
Keeping food waste clean and hygienic
Food bins are smaller than other commercial bins because food waste is heavy and needs regular emptying. To keep things manageable:
- Use caddies in the kitchen and empty them into the main bin regularly
- Keep lids closed to deter pests and smells
- Leave out packaging, cutlery and other non-food items
- Choose a collection frequency that matches your volumes, especially in warm weather
Compostable liners may be accepted – check with the partner first.
Fitting food bins into tight spaces
Many Glasgow kitchens back onto narrow service lanes or shared back courts. Smaller food bins are easier to store and wheel out than larger containers. The partner covering your area can suggest the number of bins and collection pattern to suit. Glass from your bar can go in a separate glass collection.
If you share a back court with residents, keeping food bins closed and emptied regularly helps avoid complaints about smells and pests. Collection timings are agreed with you when the service is set up, taking local access and the partner’s routes into account.
What can go in a food waste bin
- Plate scrapings
- Fruit and vegetable peelings
- Raw and cooked meat and fish
- Bread, pasta and rice
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Out-of-date food (unpackaged)
What can’t go in
- Packaging and plastic bags (unless compostable liners agreed)
- Cooking oil in bulk
- Glass
- Cutlery and crockery
- General rubbish
Not sure? See what can go in a skip or ask us when you book.
Ideal for
- Restaurants
- Cafés and coffee shops
- Takeaways
- Hotels
- Pubs serving food
- Staff canteens
Food Waste Collection – your questions answered
Can’t see your question? Call 0333 121 1056 or send us a message.
Does my business need a separate food waste collection?
If you are a food business producing more than 5kg of food waste a week, yes. That is roughly a small caddy a day for many cafés. If you are unsure, it is usually sensible to separate food waste anyway.
Can I put food waste down a macerator or drain?
No. Food waste from businesses should not be disposed of to the public sewer. It should be collected separately so it can be treated properly, and putting it down the drain can also cause fat and food blockages.
How often is food waste collected?
It depends on your volumes and the partner serving your area. Busy restaurants often need more frequent uplifts than a small café. Frequency is agreed when you set up the service and can be reviewed if your needs change.
What about waste cooking oil?
Used cooking oil should not go in your food waste bin. It needs a separate collection; see our page on oil disposal or mention it when you get in touch.
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Tell us what you need, where and when. Photos, data sheets or site plans help us price accurately – our licensed local partners do the rest.
Skips Glasgow provides skip hire, waste collection, recycling and construction support across Glasgow through Waste Cloud’s network of licensed local partners.