ATTENTION ALL PRODUCTIONS IN ENGLAND – whether TV, Film, HETV or otherwise – in just a few days, a new food waste regulation will come into effect. Starting March 31, 2025, your production will be legally required to comply with the following: 

All food waste generated on productions – whether from Craft, Catering, or office spaces – MUST be collected separately and cannot be disposed of in general waste bins. 

Instead, food waste must be stored, collected, and processed separately via anaerobic digestion. 

WHAT DOES THIS INCLUDE? 

‘Food waste’ refers to: 

• Any food intended for human or pet consumption that is being discarded. 

• Biodegradable materials left over from food preparation, such as bones, eggshells, fruit and vegetable scraps, biodegradable tea bags, and coffee grounds. 

WHY DOES THIS MATTER? 

Following the advice of this notice will ensure that your production is legally compliant, protecting your production company & studio’s reputation, as well as avoiding fines.  

Besides the legal requirement, and besides boosting your production’s sustainability efforts, you may also find that it saves costs! General waste disposal is expensive, and because food waste is particularly heavy, it often incurs additional weight-based charges. By diverting food waste from general waste streams, you could see significant cost savings. 

More importantly, decomposing food waste releases large amounts of methane – a greenhouse gas far more potent than CO₂. Methane significantly contributes to global warming, accelerating climate change. Processing food waste separately by anaerobic digestion captures this methane and repurposes it as biogas, which can be used to generate renewable heat and power. This process also produces nutrient-rich fertiliser – helping to create a circular system that benefits both the environment and the economy. Simply put, throwing it in general waste is – frankly – a waste!   

WHAT CAN YOU DO? 

To avoid fines and do your part for the planet, take a moment to check your food waste disposal processes – for example, the next time you use your office kitchen, see crew members making a tea or coffee, or pass by a workshop or catering setup.  

If your production isn’t compliant, reach out to your Sustainable Film Sustainability Department to review and improve your current food waste management system. Sustainable Film will be able to advise and help implement a food waste disposal system that is best suited to the associated department. 

Taking action now protects your legal and environmental reputation – and it might even save you money. Let’s get ahead of this change and keep our productions working sustainably!