A major shake-up to bin collections has been announced for England from the end of March with households risking fines if they ignore the rules.
The Government has reminded residents of 39 items that must not be placed in recycling bins, with the risk of a £400 penalty.
A new Simpler Recycling policy designed to create a universal standard for rubbish collections is set to kick in from March 31.
This means all homes across England will no longer need to put their waste in up to seven separate bins.
Instead, they will get four bins designated 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).
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: ‘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.’
In an appearance on BBC Morning Live last week, legal expert Gary Rycroft said the new rules had been imposed to make it clear there should be, ‘four different types of waste’.
Mr Rycroft added: ‘So moving forward, you’re going to have to separate your waste into things that can’t be recycled, then we’ve got food waste, and then we’ve got paper and card, and then we’ve got other dry recycling-glass, plastic and tin.’
The expert recommended checking in with the relevant local council to clarify any further waste disposal rules.
Within these categories: Glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, food waste and garden waste, there are items that must now be kept out of recycling collections such as candles, laminated foil and plastic packaging. (See list below).
Antony Buchan, head of local authority support at ReLondon, insisted the new scheme would make recycling easier.
A spokesman added the reforms would ‘reduce confusion’.
Kerbside plastic film collections from businesses and relevant non-domestic premises and households is also set to be introduced by March 31, 2027.
