Recycling rates across the UK have significantly increased over recent years. Some have related this increase to the introduction of recycling bins and boxes to more households through new recycling schemes.
However, current statistics show 5 million tonnes of our recycling (equivalent to 50%) is ‘co-mingled’. This means our recyclables are not fully separated when collected from our recycling bins, so require sorting at material recovery centres before they can be re-used.
Some Councils have avoid this with kerbside collections where homeowners are asked to carefully segregate recyclables. Once the rubbish has been collected it can be immediately transported to recycling centres across the UK, creating a better grade of rubbish.
New EU guidance could mean more recycling bins…
In the past week Lord de Mauley has warned of new EU guidance that is likely to commence from the 1st January 2015, which requires the UK to separate our waste more efficiently. Whether this is an issue for homeowners or councils is still a question for debate. As homeowners the most we can do is ensure that we use our recycling bins correctly and aim to re-use and recycle as much as possible. The majority of councils already run a separate recycling collection where recyclables are segregated, but for those who do not it may mean the introduction of recycling bins and boxes.
Our waste separation is relatively good within the domestic sphere; however there are some improvements to be made within the public sphere. To meet these new EU guidelines then more waste will be required to be separated and that includes outside of the home. One way we can achieve this is through the use of outdoor recycling bins which should encourage effective waste separation in all aspects of our daily lives.
We have been a nation of recyclers since the 1950s and are still making great progress. In the past decade our recycling rates have improved from 10 % to 43%. It is likely that, despite some controversy, we will embrace recycling wheelie bins to create a greener society, and it would appear they are worthwhile after all.