They are collecting 150 tonnes a month to be sent away for composting - more than anywhere else in the north.
Council chiefs say they are `delighted' that so much is being collected instead of being thrown into landfill.
But they are also urging people to try to cut down on the amount of food wasted. The recycling boost follows a decision to give food bins to 30,000 homes.
Mark Husdan, Oldham council's recycling manager, said: "We were hoping that residents would embrace the new food recycling scheme and it really is proving to be a great success.
"But the amount of tonnage does reflect the amount of food that gets wasted and we are trying to encourage people to manage more effectively the food that they purchase."
Recycling officers gave a seven litre bin and a 23 litre caddie to 30,000 homes across the borough when the scheme started in October last year.
Residents put waste food - including meat and eggshells - into the seven litre bin and then empty it into the bigger bin when it is full. Collectors empty the big bin into a lorry once a week.
It is sent to a specialist composting firm and is used on farmers' fields instead of fertiliser.
The council has now given the bins to an extra 20,000 homes, taking the total number to 50,000.
The figure will rise to 70,000 by February and 90,000 by May.
The aim is to send 5,500 tonnes for recycling each year.
Oldham sent a quarter less food waste to landfill sites in September compared with the previous year.
Phil Reed, 55, who lives in Chadderton, said: "I was a bit sceptical at first, but I think the scheme is very good.
"It's made me think about the amount of food that I waste. You do tend to throw away a lot of food, but things like bread seem to have such a short shelf-life these days."
Oldham council says the average person throws away 74kgs of organic waste every year. The council is also offering composting bins for sale at reduced prices.
Tweet
