With the Environment Act 2021 and the Government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, requiring local authorities in England to provide all households with a separate weekly collection of food waste by 31 March 2026, it is crucial that local authorities start to plan their communications now, to ensure households are communicated effectively.
WRAP worked with Defra last year to produce the Household Food Waste Collections Communication Guidance as a free resource for local authorities. Many authorities are already using the resources and assets from this guidance to help develop and design their household food waste collections campaigns.
The communications guidance features a step-by-step guide to help you prepare and plan your food waste campaign, including a template communications plan and activity schedule, plus a suite of editable food waste communication assets covering kerbside collections, collections from flats/communal properties and for those authorities moving from an existing mixed food and garden waste collection to separate food waste collection.
Why is it important to communicate effectively?
Citizen communications are an integral part of any service change. It is necessary to ensure that information is communicated effectively to householders to help them understand how, why and when to participate in planned waste and recycling service changes.
Why is branding important?
The food waste asset templates feature WRAP’s Recycle Now branding. The branding has high levels of public recognition throughout the UK and is in widespread use by around 90% of local authorities. The brand is extensively tested and evaluated, and research shows that local authority communications benefit from association with national campaigns and messaging, through greater awareness and increased impact.
Our top 5 communication tools available to you:
- Writing your communications campaign - we’ve identified 10 steps to plan an effective communications campaign. Downloadable Word and Excel templates are available to take you through each step of the planning process.
- Updating your website - your website needs to be updated with information about the upcoming food waste service prior to service launch and during the roll out. We’ve provided some template website content to feature.
- Frequently Asked Questions - we’ve prepared some for you to share internally with relevant crews, frontline staff and elected members and on your website to help reduce queries and calls from householders and ensure a consistent approach to responses.
- Writing a press release - most local authorities have established relationships with local media, so liaise with your communications team on how and when to contact local journalists. We’ve provided some example media content and don’t forget to also feature in your council magazine or newsletter.
- Raising awareness online - social media platforms provide an excellent opportunity to promote the food waste collection service and can encourage residents to actively engage in recycling. We have some example social media copy, as well as social graphic templates available.
Our top 5 food waste templates available to you:
- Pre-launch leaflet - the introductory leaflet has been developed to introduce a new food waste recycling scheme in your area. It is expected it will be delivered to households approximately 4 weeks before delivery of the kitchen caddy and outdoor bin.
- Kerbside instructional leaflet / Flats instructional leaflet - this leaflet has been developed to provide information on the new food waste recycling service to households receiving a kerbside collection and those receiving a communal collection. It is expected it will be delivered at the same time as the containers.
- Caddy sticker, liner and hotfoil artwork – these detail what can and can’t be collected.
- Flats signage – communal container signage can be resized to fit your containers.
Digital assets - web banner artwork has been developed for the launch phase and can be added to the homepage of your council website and included on a dedicated food waste webpage. There is also a variety of social media static carousel graphics for you to use on your Facebook or Instagram.
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Download the Household Food Waste Collections Communication Guidance here: Household Food Waste Collections: Guidance and campaign planning templates | WRAP
Get in touch
For further support and information on the food waste collections communications guidance and templates, please contact WRAP’s Local Authority Support Team.
Email: la.support@wrap.ngo or visit www.wrap.ngo
Sign up to WRAP’s local authority monthly e-newsletter here.
