The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued a new update on fines for banned items in the new bin collections for every household in England in March
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has released fresh guidance on penalties as sweeping changes to bin collections for every household in England loom just weeks away. Under the new Simpler Recycling scheme, most homes and businesses will be required to use four separate containers as standard.
From March 31, waste collection services must gather food and garden waste, paper and card, all other dry recyclable materials, and residual waste separately. This means residents will have at least four bins, and the shake-up is expected to spark considerable confusion.
Officials have confirmed that certain items which might appear to fit into the four categories must not be placed in recycling, leaving people potentially facing penalties.
Following various reports, including coverage by the BBC suggesting fines could reach £400 per offence, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has issued a clarification – confirming that fines could be handed out – but are more likely to be around £80. DEFRA encouraged residents to visit their local authority website ‘to see how these can be recycled or disposed of at specific recycling points or Household Waste and Recycling centres.’
It continued: “Local authorities are responsible for providing clear, local information to households about what can and cannot be recycled in each waste stream, to reduce confusion.
“Any penalty for incorrect presentation of household waste in England is a civil penalty, not a criminal fine. A Fixed Penalty Notice – valued between £60 and £80 – can only be issued after a written warning and where incorrect presentation is causing a nuisance.”
A Defra spokesperson said: “From March, every household in England will receive weekly food waste collections and will have the same materials collected for recycling. Local authorities will continue to deliver services in a way that works best for their area, but these reforms will end the postcode lottery of bin collections and help keep our streets cleaner.”
The government has pledged £295 million in capital funding to assist councils in purchasing the necessary vehicles and kitchen caddies required to meet the March 2026 weekly food waste collection deadline.
Speaking 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.”
Addressing concerns over the £400 penalties, he explained: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
Households must now navigate six distinct categories for waste disposal: Glass, Metal, Plastic, Paper and card, Food waste, and Garden waste.
Summary of items people must NOT put into the new bins:
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
For more information on the scheme visit the government website here.
