The government has announced that individuals could be hit with fines for incorrectly disposing of six items in their bins, as a significant shift in waste management is set to take effect within months. From 31 March, waste collectors are required to separately collect food and garden waste, paper and card, all other dry recyclable material, and residual waste.
This will result in households having at least four bins, potentially leading to considerable confusion. Officials have clarified that certain items, which may seem like they should fall into one of the four categories, must not be placed in the recycling bin – one list released by officials has 37 items on it which must NOT go in the bins (see below).
This could leave people facing fines of up to £400. As part of the Simpler Recycling initiative, representatives from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have stated: “We will make recycling easier: citizens will be able to recycle the same materials across England, whether at home, work or school, and will no longer need to check what is accepted for recycling in their local area. A universal standard will ensure that everything that can be collected for household recycling is collected in every region.
“Simpler Recycling will also end the ‘postcode lottery’ of bin collections in Englan,d whereby councils collect different materials for recycling, causing confusion for households.”
Last week, during an appearance on BBC Morning Live, solicitor Gary Rycroft explained: “There are new rules coming in, the government has imposed new rules in England to say that people should have four different types of waste. The rules come into force March 31st this year. So moving forward, you’re going to have to separate your waste into things that can’t be recycled, then we’ve got food waste, and then we’ve got paper and card, and then we’ve got other dry recycling-glass, plastic, and tin.”
Regarding the potential £400 penalties, he stated: “But these are the new rules. And of course, it’s really important for us all that we recycle, that we don’t waste things, so it is a really good policy. The £400 thing, well actually there’ve always been rules about how you use your bins.
“There’s always been rules about not overfilling your bin in case seagulls come and take the waste away. There are rules about not keeping it on the pavement for too long, just putting it out on the right day.
“Always check with your local council, that’s the key thing to do. Your local council will have their own rules. Check with them. If you’re not sure what to do, check with the council and check with them about when you’re going to get your new bins if you’ve not got them already.”
There are six categories containing materials that must not be placed into recycling: Glass. Metal, Plastic, Paper and card, Food waste, Garden waste.
Overview of materials residents must NOT place into the new containers:
Glass
You do not need to collect any glass not used as packaging. This includes:
- candles
- drinking glasses
- flat glass
- glass cookware (such as Pyrex)
- light bulbs and tubes
- microwave plates
- mirrors
- vases
- window glass
- ceramics, such as crockery or earthenware
Metal
You do not need to collect:
- laminated foil, like pet food pouches and coffee pouches
- electrical items and batteries
- general kitchenware like cutlery, pots and pans
- kettles
- irons
- pipes
- metal packaging that has contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreeze
Plastic
You do not need to collect:
- any plastic packaging or non-packaging items labelled as ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’, including coffee pods
- plastic bottles that have contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreeze
- bulky rigid plastics such as garden furniture, bins and plastic toys
- polystyrene (expanded and high impact) packaging such as packing beads
- polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging
Paper and card
You do not need to collect:
- food and drinks cartons made of a fibre-based composite (these should be collected in the plastic stream)
- absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) including nappies, period products and incontinence products
- cotton wool or makeup pads
- tissue or toilet paper
- wet wipes
Food waste
You do not need to collect any plastic packaging or non-packaging items labelled as ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’, including coffee pods.
Food waste caddy liners used to hold food waste can be collected.
Garden waste
You do not need to collect:
- animal bedding
- bulky waste (including garden furniture and fencing)
- garden tools or other gardening equipment
- plant pots
- plastic
- sand
- sawdust
- stone, gravel or bricks
- tea bags or coffee grounds
- branches and trees over a certain size may have to be cut into smaller pieces to follow local guidance