UK's new 'four bin' rule comes into effect next month
The UK government is dramatically overhauling the way British residents sort their recycling by ushering in a complex four-bin system.
In a bid to standardise waste collection across England, the Simpler Recycling initiative is officially coming into play next month.
Initially introduced by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) in 2023, the drive is designed to ‘help make bin day easier, by ending the confusion of what can and can’t be recycled’.
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As part of the initiative, officials have confirmed that all English households, including apartments and houses, will need to sort their waste into four new waste containers by the end of March.
The four types of waste containers will include:
- non-recyclable residual waste that is sent for energy recovery or to landfill
- food and garden waste
- paper and card
- all other dry recyclable materials, including plastic, metal, and glass
The four-bin system will officially come into action on 31 March 2026, as per official government guidance.
Waste collection authorities will be responsible for collecting household waste, including emptying food waste tubs on a weekly basis, as confirmed by Defra.
Despite the deadline, the BBC reported that almost a quarter of English councils will miss the deadline to collect food waste from all homes.
Some of the councils that will not have the weekly food waste collection scheme in place before the deadline include Durham and Northumberland County Council, as well as the South Cambridgeshire District Council and Rugby Borough Council.
All four have plans to launch in summer or by the end of 2026.
Some councils, such as Shropshire and Herefordshire, did not provide the BBC with an estimation of when residents could expect weekly food waste pickups to commence.
The outlet has stated that some councils who are failing to meet the deadline have blamed the delay on the demand for specialist vehicles.
Others have cited funding issues, despite Defra handing out more than £340m in grants, the publication confirmed.
From 31 March, officials can choose ‘how to collect dry recyclable waste streams, depending on local circumstances’, as per the notice.
This can include collecting paper and gardening together with any combination of dry recyclables, or collecting separately.
It’s important to note that by 31 March 2027, plastic film packaging (such as crisp packets) and plastic bags will need to be included with plastic recycling, as per The Express.
Last year, Defra distributed a list of what objects councils are not required to collect under the new system.
The first is glass not used as packaging, such as candles, glass cookware, and ceramics.
Councils also do not need to collect food and drinks cartons made of a fibre-based composite because these should be collected in the plastic stream.
Other items include:
- tissue or toilet paper
- coffee pods
- animal bedding
- laminated foil used to package pet food pouches
- pipes
- kettles
For more information on what items councils aren’t obliged to collect, click here. You
Ella Scott