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One Bin is Rubbish! Waste Segregation is the key

One of the most confusing things about household waste management is understanding what goes into which bin, and what items can and cannot be recycled, this is called waste segregation. This confusion only deepens with many local councils having differing waste management collections. Depending on where you live, and which local authority you come under will determine how your waste is managed, what types of materials are collected, in what containers and how often.

Each local authority follows its own waste management and waste segregation strategy, this is usually based upon the capability of the recycling and waste management plants which they use. This means that some councils accept waste in wheeled bins, others in recycling boxes and some even in bags. This difference isn’t only applied to the receptacles the waste is captured in, but also the materials they can collect. Different local authorities collect different recyclables and in different forms, some split all each different material type into their own receptacles, others accept a mix of different types. Some offer food waste recycling, whilst some do not and some offer a free service for garden waste and other a paid for.

There is also often confusion with what items go into which bin, and whether or not certain items are deemed as ‘recyclable’ – coupled with the difference in council management, often some items which belong in the recycling get put into the general waste bin. But putting all your waste into one bin is damaging to the environment and prevents the perfectly recyclable item from being done so.

Segregation is key

Poor recycling starts with bad waste segregation. Not separating your waste correctly, putting them in the incorrect bins, not removing labels or tape and even not washing them before binning are all big causes of waste contamination. One wrong item can contaminate the whole batch, deeming it unrecyclable.

This is why we always stress the importance of understanding your waste, and what your council can offer. Ask your council or research online the different waste types they accept – every local authority has a designated waste / recycling page full of useful information on their website. If you cannot find what you are looking for, call the waste management team who are always on hand to help.

A bit of online research will also help you decide whether or not an item is recyclable. Based on a basic google search, we found that black plastic trays and greasy pizza boxes are NOT recyclable according to many industry experts. Even simpler you can always check the packaging, often it will give you guidance on how to recycle the different components in your waste.

Never guess, always check! If you need any help call us and we can help advice!