Last year, the government announced that it would be implementing changes to the way we recycle as part of its Simpler Recycling Scheme. The changes are due to come into effect from next month (31 March) in the hopes that it’ll help increase recycling rates.
We refuse to waste your time, so here is everything you need to know about the new changes.
How will recycling rules change?
The changes being implemented by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will mean that local councils will now collect waste in four separate bins:
- Food and garden waste
- Paper and card
- All other dry recyclable waste
- All other (non-recyclable) waste
The new rules will apply to households and flats, which may have communal bins, as well as businesses, school and hospitals. Although it may seem like adding new bins into the mix will make things harder to manage, the aim is to actually make things simpler across the board.
The move to standardise waste collection in England is set to make things more streamlined, helping to reach government targets that hope to raise recycling rates to 65% by 2035. The aim is to make things less confusing, as the new rules would be the same no matter where in the country you are.
Why do paper and card need to be separated?
Creating four different ways to sort rubbish will help materials to be recycled more easily. As of now, paper can get wet or dirty from other items that are being recycled, so separating them will help make the process easier, as well as cheaper.
For the most up-to-date information on your local authority’s recycling collections, the best place to check is on this website.