Every property will receive a small, sealable food waste caddy to be kept in the kitchen, a larger, sealable food waste bin for outside and a roll of 52 biodegradable caddy liners.
The new collection scheme, which starts on March 31, includes weekly food waste and recycling collections.
An information pack is included with the new bins, telling residents what their new weekly recycling collection day will be.
Residents will be asked to put food waste, such as peelings, leftovers, out-of-date items and tea bags, in the lined caddy and put it in the outside food waste bin. The food waste bin will be collected once a week along with the general recycling bin and green glass box.
General household waste will still be collected fortnightly.
The changes will be introduced as part of mandatory measures introduced by the Government, which requires all local councils to collect food waste weekly from all residential properties.
General recycling will also be simplified, meaning cardboard, paper, tins and plastic are all put together in the existing recycling bin, with cartons and Tetra Paks, which can now also be recycled. The cardboard and paper caddy inside the bin is no longer needed and can be kept and used for something else.
For households without a recycling bin, residents are asked to put cardboard, paper, tins and plastic in their green box with cartons and Tetra Paks. Glass will continue to be separated and put in the second green box. The blue bag for paper and card is no longer needed.
Darlington Borough Council’s latest update about the new scheme comes after councillors urged the authority to improve the public’s awareness of the wide-scale changes.
Libby McCollom, cabinet member for local services, said: “We are using this opportunity to also simplify the general recycling so residents will only need to separate their glass from their other recycling. We hope this makes it easier for more people to recycle right more often.
“As there are so many homes across the town, we have started delivering the new food waste bins but the scheme will not start until March 31. Don’t worry if you haven’t received your food waste recycling bins yet – we are working to get bins to every home before the scheme starts at the end of March.”