Homes and businesses across England have seen huge changes to their bin collections.
Households across England have been warned not to get caught out by new bin rules, amid major recycling changes. If you ignore the latest guidelines, your bin might not be collected.
The UK’s Simpler Recycling reforms, under the Environment Act 2021, have enforced mandatory and consistent recycling for businesses and households in England. It means there are now separate collections for food waste, paper and card, glass, metal and plastic.
Local authorities need to provide clear information about what can and can’t be recycled, with some councils exempt from the new regulations until at least 2040. It is important to check with your local authority to see whether these new rules apply.
Councils are able to decide how they collect metal, glass and plastic. The government is encouraging local councils to collect metal lids and caps along with the jars they belong to.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ guidance reads: “Metal lids and caps on glass containers (for example, metal jam jar lids) can be left on and recycled with glass.
“Putting the lids or caps back on glass jars and bottles and recycling them with glass reduces the chance of them getting lost through the sorting process.”
Therefore, households should keep lids or caps on jars or bottles when putting them in the recycling bin. Always make sure you rinse and clean out any food or liquid before recycling.
Recycle Now has also issued guidance when it comes to recycling glass. It said: “Empty and give a quick rinse. Leftover liquid can contaminate other recyclables which may mean they aren’t recycled.
“Put lids and caps back on. This reduces the chance of them getting lost during the sorting process as they can be recycled separately.”
Corks should be removed from bottles before recycling, but these can be composted at home. If you decide to recycle your glass at a bottle bank, blue glass can go in with green glass.
The new bin rules mean there has also been a change in what bathroom items can and can’t be recycled. Always check with your local council to see if the rule applies in your area.
The latest guidelines mean councils don’t need to recycle absorbent hygiene products such as nappies, period products and incontinence products.
Cotton wool and makeup pads can’t be recycled, neither can tissues or wet wipes.
Toilet paper should only be put down the toilet, while mirrors can’t be recycled at home so should be taken to a recycling centre.
