UK Gov’t announces new food waste recycling plans
Every home in England will receive easier and more consistent recycling collections, the government has announced.
Under new plans to boost recycling and protect the environment, every household will receive separate, weekly food waste collections from 2023.
Plans being considered include the introduction of statutory guidance on new minimum service standards for waste and recycling collections, subject to an assessment of affordability and value for money. This could recommend a minimum standard of residual waste collected at least once a fortnight alongside the weekly collection of organic waste. Councils would continue to be supported to collect more frequently than the minimum standard, the government said.
Ministers are also considering free garden waste collections for every home, which could save householders over £100 million (€115 million) a year in green waste charges. Currently, councils have discretion on whether to provide the service, which is usually charged on top of council tax.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Householders want more frequent recycling collections. Regular food and garden waste collections will ensure that they can get rid of their rubbish faster, at no additional cost to them.
“Our proposals will boost recycling rates, and ensure that less rubbish is condemned to landfill.”
The government will also set out plans to make recycling easier with a clear list of materials that all local authorities and waste firms must collect from homes and businesses, specifically plastic, paper and card, food waste, glass, and metal, as well as garden waste. It is hoped this will end the confusion for millions of homes and businesses having varied collections in different areas.
Under new plans to boost recycling and protect the environment, every household will receive separate, weekly food waste collections from 2023.
Plans being considered include the introduction of statutory guidance on new minimum service standards for waste and recycling collections, subject to an assessment of affordability and value for money. This could recommend a minimum standard of residual waste collected at least once a fortnight alongside the weekly collection of organic waste. Councils would continue to be supported to collect more frequently than the minimum standard, the government said.
Ministers are also considering free garden waste collections for every home, which could save householders over £100 million (€115 million) a year in green waste charges. Currently, councils have discretion on whether to provide the service, which is usually charged on top of council tax.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Householders want more frequent recycling collections. Regular food and garden waste collections will ensure that they can get rid of their rubbish faster, at no additional cost to them.
“Our proposals will boost recycling rates, and ensure that less rubbish is condemned to landfill.”
The government will also set out plans to make recycling easier with a clear list of materials that all local authorities and waste firms must collect from homes and businesses, specifically plastic, paper and card, food waste, glass, and metal, as well as garden waste. It is hoped this will end the confusion for millions of homes and businesses having varied collections in different areas.
