Over the coming weeks, collection crews will be checking brown-lid recycling bins more closely and bins containing non-recyclable waste are likely to be rejected for collection.
When non-recyclable items are mixed in with good recycling, it can contaminate the whole load and risks rejection by the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
This means more material has to be treated as waste instead of being recycled, and can substantially increase processing costs for the borough.
By putting the right items in the right bin, residents help protect the environment and make sure recycling collected in Nuneaton and Bedworth can be turned into new products.
Most common non-recyclable items found in brown-lid recycling bins include nappies and sanitary waste, polystyrene and black bags containing waste – all of which should be placed in the general waste (black) bin.
The council has seen an increase in recycling being placed in plastic bags which means that good recyclable material cannot be sorted at the Materials Recovery Facility and could end up going for incineration instead of being recycled into new products.
How to make sure your recycling is collected:
- Place recyclable items loose in your brown-lid bin (not in bags)
- Empty and rinse items (use old washing up water to save water)
- Avoid placing non-recyclable items in your brown-lid bin
Check our recycling hints and tips.
A Council spokesperson said:
“We really appreciate our residents’ efforts to recycle and with this extra focus we can increase recycling and reduce contamination and do our bit for the environment.”