Where to put food waste (no, it’s not your kitchen worktop)

During hot weather, I’ve accepted that I need to empty my food waste bin daily or it will start to stink. But waste experts have just put me onto a slightly unconventional method that completely halts the decomposition process. All it requires is freezer space…

Even thinking about bad bin smells is enough to make me gag, so I welcome any method that promises to stop a bin from smelling the heat. Since the introduction of Simpler Recycling rules, every household in England will now have a food waste caddy in their kitchens.

If you’ve been struggling to stop your food waste bin from smelling, you might want to try this hack. Provided you have enough freezer space, all you have to do is put your food waste in the freezer and say goodbye to unpleasant aromas.

Can you put food waste in the freezer?

I’d first spotted this hack in the comment section of a TikTok and instantly baulked at the idea of putting my food waste in with my actual food. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense – after all, freezing the food would halt the decomposition process – and so I decided to get an expert’s opinion.

‘Storing a food waste bin in the freezer can be a good idea, particularly during hot weather when food waste tends to break down more quickly, leaving unwanted odours. Freezing food waste helps slow bacterial growth, preventing the decomposition process that causes those unpleasant smells. This can make it a practical solution for households that struggle with smells in the kitchen,’ AO’s refrigeration expert, Jade Golding-Gault, explained to me.

‘The main benefit of this hack is it minimises unwanted odours in your kitchen. By keeping food waste frozen, you’re pausing the processes that cause smells to develop. It can also help deter fruit flies and other pests that are attracted to food waste, which is particularly helpful in the summer when they are more common. For households with infrequent food waste collections, it can be an easy way to keep kitchens clean and fresh between pick-ups.’

Of course, the main drawback of this hack is that it requires a lot of space. If you have a small kitchen and even smaller fridge/ freezer, this hack might not be suitable for you. For example, I have an under-the-counter fridge/ freezer, and my freezer is one small drawer – so unfortunately, this won’t be a hack I can use.

‘Storing food waste scraps in the freezer takes up valuable space that could be used for real food, especially if you have a small freezer. After taking the frozen waste out of the freezer, there is the chance that the scraps may turn soft and begin to leak water as they warm up on the way to the bin. Wet or heavy waste can also tear thin plastic bags, causing additional cleanup,’ says Ryan Kalia, a waste and bin specialist at Kingfisher Direct.

There are also hygiene considerations to take into account, too. Unwanted odours can transfer into the food in your freezer if your waste isn’t sealed properly, and you should remember it will immediately start decomposing again once you remove it from the freezer – so you should only store it for a limited time.

If you do lack freezer space to try this hack, don’t worry; here are a few small space-friendly methods to stop your food waste bin from smelling.

‘Freezing food waste can be a useful option if you are bothered by odours or pests in your kitchen, but it shouldn’t be necessary for every household. Regularly emptying your food waste bin, keeping it clean, using compostable liners and storing it away from direct sunlight can often be enough to keep odours under control. For those with limited freezer space, maintaining a clean food waste bin is usually a more practical long-term solution,’ concludes Jade.

It’s an unusual hack, but one that does work to reduce food waste smells – would you try it?