Residents of England are being reminded of the the potential for huge £400 fines for bin misuse. Earlier this year, simpler bin rules came into force in England. There are now six categories which contain items that must not be recycled. The Government has issued advice that Brits could be fined for disposing of six specific items when new waste rules take effect within months.
As of March 31 this year, bin collectors became required to separately collect food and garden waste, paper and card, all other dry recyclables, and general rubbish. Officials have clarified that certain items, which may appear to fit into the four categories, are strictly banned from recycling bins, leaving residents at risk of penalties reaching up to £400.
The Simpler Recycling scheme, outlined by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs prior to the change explained the purpose of the new rules. It said: “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. Simpler Recycling will also end the ‘postcode lottery’ of bin collections in England, whereby councils collect different materials for recycling, causing confusion for households.”
Key items residents must NOT place into their bins:
glass cookware (such as Pyrex)
ceramics, such as crockery or earthenware
general kitchenware like cutlery, pots and pans
metal packaging that has contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreeze
bulky rigid plastics such as garden furniture, bins and plastic toys
polystyrene (expanded and high impact) packaging such as packing beads
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging
cotton wool or makeup pads
garden tools or other gardening equipment
tea bags or coffee grounds
branches and trees over a certain size may have to be cut into smaller pieces to follow local guidance