England moves to standardised household recycling rules

Insights

• Councils must offer separate collections for paper and card, glass, metal and plastic, and food waste.
• Households may be given a separate food waste bin and should put food scraps in that bin rather than in general rubbish.
• Rollout timing and exact bin types remain set by each local authority, so residents must check their council for start dates and collection frequency.
• The rules are designed to raise recycling rates, reduce contamination and cut landfill and incineration of recyclable material.
• Businesses and larger organisations face similar separation requirements for key recyclables.