Yahoo News Bin changes for householders set to make recycling easy
Householders who find it a chore to divide up their rubbish into various recycling bins will no doubt welcome new rules that clean up the problem and make life easier.
The Government has announced this Thursday that under a 'new, common-sense approach', bin collection day is to be made simpler with householders able to put all their recyclables into one bin. And by bringing an end to 'confusing recycling and excessive bins', the result should mean a boost for recycling across the nation says the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
It adds there has so far been a patchwork of different approaches to bin collections from homes, workplaces and schools across the country and the change comes after listening to councils' views on bin-cluttered streets. Now the new rules will allow councils to collect plastic, metal, glass, paper and card in just one bin.
Food and garden waste also will be 'co-collected'. Not only will collections be made easier and more flexible for the councils but they also will be less confusing for householders who no longer will have to check what their council will accept for recycling.
The Government also will be supporting more frequent bin collections, with black bin waste collected fortnightly at a minimum and food waste collections made each week. The hope is that there will be even more frequent collections to prevent the build-up of smelly waste.
It says that in some areas - seen outside England - there has been a trend towards three-weekly or even four-weekly pick-ups. Announcing the changes, Recycling Minister Robbie Moore said: "We all want to do our bit to increase recycling and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill - but a patchwork of different bin collections across England means it can be hard to know what your council will accept.
"Our plans for 'Simpler Recycling' will end that confusion: ensuring that the same set of materials will be collected regardless of where you live." Paul Vanston, chief executive officer of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment, said: "Householders can take this Government announcement as a pledge that, wherever we live across the nation, our local councils will all speedily implement recycling collections of the full range of materials that will match on-pack recycling labels citizens rely on for guidance.
"Those paying the very substantial costs for councils’ local packaging recycling services – especially citizens, brands and retailers – can rightly set high benchmarks of great customer service, superb packaging recycling performance and demonstrable value-for-money being achieved everywhere. The plans will apply to all homes in England, including flats."
He added that similar measures will also apply to the likes of businesses, hospitals, schools and universities while a wider scope will take in places of worship, prisons, charity shops, hostels and public meeting places too.
The Government says this recycling change advances efforts to increase recycling and reduce waste. Last October, new restrictions came into force concerning single-use plastic and plans are under way on implementing a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers and a responsibility scheme for packaging to clamp down on plastic pollution and litter.
At the start of 2024 the Government announced disposable vapes will be banned in the UK to protect children’s health and tackle the environmental impact. Microbeads are also banned in some personal care products; there are restrictions on the likes of single-use plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds and a Plastic Packaging Tax.
It adds that the single-use plastic carrier bag charge has now cut sales by more than 97% in the main supermarkets.
