Bin collection changes explained: The two main differences households should know about

New recycling rules for England are set to be introduced, with a new “three bin” policy aimed at making the system simpler for households.

The government had reportedly planned for households to require seven bins for their recycling but it has now announced the more refined scheme.

Under the plans, every household in England will be able to place multiple materials into one bin, while glass, garden waste and food waste will also be picked up.

Here, Yahoo News UK breaks down the changes…

When do the changes come into force?

The changes are still in the planning stages and, as such, will not be introduced immediately.

According to the government response on the consultation, new requirements for recycling will come into force by 31 March 2026.

Plastic film packaging and plastic bags made of mono-polyethylene, mono-polypropylene and mixed polyolefins PE and PP, will be included from 31 March 2027.

Why are they changing?

While household recycling has increased significantly over the past 20 years, the recycling rates have now plateaued.

According to government data, recycling rates in England have gone up from 11% in 2000/2001 to 42% in 2021/2022.

That figure has hovered between 42% and 44% in recent years and so the new, simpler scheme is aimed at increasing these rates as the UK attempts to meet its net zero targets.

The government says it hopes the new rules will raise the household recycling rate 65% by 2035.

What are the two key changes?

To achieve higher recycling rates in England, two key changes have been made by the government.

Firstly, all local authorities are required to collect the same recyclable waste streams for recycling or composing from households.

This means that card, plastic, glass, metal, food waste, and garden waste will all be collected.

Secondly, any non-households – which includes schools, hospitals and businesses – will need to make their own arrangements to have the same recyclable waste streams collected for recycling or composting.

The only exceptions to this is garden waste.

What are the rules on recycled waste?

Many councils across England currently have separate bins for different types of dry recyclable waste.

But under the new plans, these will all be placed into one bin.

Dry recyclables that will be placed in these bins include metal, grass bottles and jars, plastic and paper and card.

The government has provided a list of what constitutes dry recycling materials…

Glass

Households will be able to place glass packaging – including bottles and jars – into the multi-use recycling bin.

Metal

• Steel and aluminium tins and cans

• Steel and aluminium aerosols

• Aluminium foil

• Aluminium food trays

• Steel and aluminium jars and bottle lids

• Aluminium tubes

Plastic

• Plastic bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

• Pots, tubs and trays made of PET

• Plastic tubes larger than 50mm x 50mm made of polypropylene or polyethylene

• Cartons for food, drink and other liquids

• Plastic film packaging and plastic bags (from 31 March 2027)

Paper and card

All paper and card will be collected except:

• Paper and card that contains glitter or foil

• Paper that is laminated

• Stickers and sticky paper

• Padded lined envelopes

• Paperback and hardback books

• Wallpaper

What are the rules on food waste?

Food waste will be collected for recycling or composting weekly for all households.

Any food that is “intended for human or household pet consumption”, regardless of its nutritional value, will be collected.

Biodegradable food waste left over from processing or preparing food will also be collected.

These include:

• Bones

• Eggshells

• Fruit and vegetable skins

• Tea bags

• Coffee grounds

What are the rules on garden waste?

Councils will be required to provide a garden waste collected when requested, which can be collected with food waste if it chooses.

However, as is currently the case, they may be able to charge for garden waste collections.

All organic garden waste material will be collected, except for:

• Ash

• Full-sized trees

• Invasive weeds and species

• Soil

• Turf cuttings

• Animal waste

• Dry recyclable materials

Read more

• Plastic recycling is failing – here's how the world must respond (The Conversation)

• Remembrance poppies set to be plastic free and recyclable in a move to reduce single-use plastics (The Yorkshire Post)

• 'Furious' residents film refuse workers tip separate recycling waste into the same bin (Yahoo News)