New bin collection rules will hit England within months – with UK households given four bins under the Labour Party government. The new default requirement for most households and workplaces will be 4 containers for residual (non-recyclable) waste, food waste (mixed with garden waste if appropriate), paper and card and all other dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal and glass).
These may be various container types, including bags, bins or stackable boxes, the government has said. In its outline for the shake up, it warns: “This is the government’s maximum default requirement and is not expected to increase in the future.
“However, councils and other waste collectors will still have the flexibility to make the best choices to suit local need. This is a sensible, pragmatic approach to the collection of materials for every household and business in England.”
READ MORE All parts of England that WON’T see snow this weekend according to Met Office
It adds: “We will make recycling easier: citizens will be able to recycle the same materials across England whether at home, work or school, and will no longer need to check what is accepted for recycling in their local area. A universal standard will ensure that everything that can be collected for household recycling is collected in every region.”
“Following this announcement, we will work with the sector and provide further guidance and tools to support preparation for Simpler Recycling implementation dates, with a particular focus on the 31 March 2025 deadline for businesses and relevant non-domestic premises,” it adds.
It added: “We will proceed with the exemption which means that micro-firms will have until 31 March 2027 to comply with requirements. This provides a realistic timeline for those businesses with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees to make the necessary changes. We recognise there are challenges to these businesses to transition.
“We will provide advice and support to assist them in complying with the requirements.”