Recycling can be confusing, leaving people and businesses wondering what items can be recycled on bin day. So, a new common-sense approach has been announced to make bin day easier and more standard across the country.

Councils will now be allowed to collect plastic, metal, glass, paper, and card in one bin in all circumstances. Food and garden waste can also be collected at the same time.

This approach will keep things simpler for councils and other waste collectors.

The government is also pushing for more frequent and comprehensive bin collections. Outside England, there is a trend towards three-weekly or four-weekly bin collections. At a minimum, councils will be expected to collect black bin waste at least every 2 weeks, and to collect food waste each week. However, councils are being encouraged to consider making more frequent collections to avoid smelly waste building up.

The measures cover homes and businesses in England. Places of worship, penal institutes, charity shops, hostels and public meeting places have also now come under the scope of the Simpler Recycling regulations.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/simpler-bin-collections-for-england-to-boost-recycling