From 31 March, households in England must keep a lengthy list of common items out of their recycling bins under the Government's new Simpler Recycling rules. The changes, led by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, move councils towards a four-bin system covering food and garden waste, paper and card, dry recyclables, and general rubbish.
Items now explicitly excluded include drinking glasses, mirrors, Pyrex, light bulbs, cutlery, pots and pans, nappies, wet wipes, tissues, polystyrene, PVC packaging, and any plastic labelled compostable or biodegradable. Dirty or greasy packaging — a saucy takeaway container or greasy pizza box, for instance — must also stay out. Contamination of this kind can cause otherwise recyclable material to be rejected outright.
Recycling expert John Rowlinson, quoted by the Express, warned that "wish-cycling" — placing items in the recycling bin out of hope rather than certainty — remains a widespread problem. He advised residents to consult their local council's specific list, since accepted materials can still vary between areas despite the new standardised framework.
Source: The Express