Recyclables to go in one bin under simpler collection rules, Government says

Households in England will be able to put recyclables in one bin under simpler collection rules, the Government has said.

The Environment Department (Defra) announced on Friday that the same materials will be collected from homes, workplaces and schools across the country in order to end the confusion caused by councils operating different systems.

Under the new rules, people will be able to put plastic, metal, glass, paper and card in one bin.

Councils will also be able to co-collect food and garden waste.

Defra said the new measures will mean households no longer have to check which materials their specific council will accept for recycling.

They will also reduce complexity for waste collectors and boost recycling rates, it added.

Elsewhere, the Government said it is supporting councils to increase the frequency of collections in a bid to prevent bins from cluttering streets.

A minimum backstop will be introduced so that councils are expected to collect black bin waste at least fortnightly, alongside weekly food waste collections, it announced.

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 of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN), 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.”

Defra said the plans will apply to all homes in England, including flats.

Similar measures will apply to non-household municipal premises, including businesses, hospitals, schools and universities, places of worship, penal institutes, charity shops, hostels and public meeting places.