New bin rules for all 6 bin collections in England – full list | UK | News

Households have faced new rules on litter since the end of March as authorities ticked off a list of 37 items you can’t throw into kerbside recycling bins as part of a major overhaul in England. New, simpler rules on recycling came into force on March 31 as the government looks to streamline inter-municipal collections.

Clear guidance is given on what can and cannot be put in the recycling bin to avoid previous problems of confusion and contamination. Refuse collectors will now separately collect food waste, garden waste, all paper and cardboard and other dry recyclables and general rubbish as standard. The Simpler Recycling plan outlined by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) says: “We will make recycling easier: citizens will be able to recycle the same materials at home, work or school across England and will no longer need to check what is accepted for recycling in their local area.

“A universal standard would ensure that everything that can be collected for household recycling is collected in every locality.

“Simpler Recycling will also put an end to the litter collection ‘postcode lottery’ in England, where councils collect different materials for recycling, causing confusion in households,” says DEFRA.

Not all councils are yet suitable for the new approach; There is a grace period to give local authorities time to adapt.

The government has provided guidance to local authorities, identifying 37 examples of items under Simple Recycling that are not covered by certain household recycling ‘streams’, such as food waste or metal recycling.

He advised residents to check local authority websites to see how these items can be recycled or disposed of at specific recycling points or Household Waste and Recycling centres.

To reduce confusion, local authorities should provide clear information to households about what can and cannot be recycled in each waste stream, the government said.

It provided a non-exhaustive list of the types of materials that city employees would not need to collect under the new approach.

Glass

Glasses not used as packaging will not be collected; this includes:

candles
glasses
flat glass
glass baking dish (such as Pyrex)
bulbs and tubes
microwave plates
mirrors
vases
window glass
ceramics, such as pottery or earthenware

coal

laminated foil, such as pet food bags and coffee bags
electrical products and batteries
common kitchen utensils such as cutlery, pots and pans
kettles
irons
piping
metal container containing white spirit, paint, motor oil, or antifreeze

Plastic

Any plastic packaging or unpackaged product labeled as ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’, including coffee capsules
plastic bottles containing white spirit, paint, motor oil, or antifreeze
Bulky hard plastics such as garden furniture, waste bins and plastic toys
Polystyrene (expanded and high-impact) packaging such as packaging beads
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging

paper and card

Food and beverage cartons made from fibre-based composite (these should be collected in the plastic stream)
absorbent hygiene products (AHPs), including diapers, menstrual products, and incontinence products
cotton wool or makeup pads
tissue or toilet paper
baby wipes

garden waste

animal bed
bulky waste (including garden furniture and fences)
garden tools or other garden equipment
flower pots
plastic
sand
sawdust
stone, gravel or brick
tea bags or coffee grounds
Branches and trees over a certain size may need to be cut into smaller pieces to comply with local guidelines

food waste

Plastic packaging or unpackaged products labeled as ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’, including coffee capsules, will not be collected.

However, food waste bins used to hold food waste will be collected.