Recycle responsibly

Changes to Recycling

Under a new policy to encourage better recycling standards among all residents, North Kesteven District Council is taking a harder line to make sure only the right things are put out for recycling.

Green-lidded bins will not be emptied from 8 October 2012 if they contain items which shouldn’t be in them such as food, dirty food containers and soiled nappies.

All bins are inspected before being emptied. Where they are found to be contaminated with anything that shouldn’t be in them, they’ll be left with a label explaining the problem and asking for the offending items to be taken out before the next collection date two weeks later.

Contamination

The bin will not be emptied until the contamination is removed and the contents are in line with the list printed on bin tags, available online or email customerservices@n-kesteven.gov.uk . Conscientious recyclers who follow the rules have nothing to worry about and those who don’t only need to check the approved items on the list.

‘Contamination’ covers all items which are wrongly put in the recycling bin.
In some cases – such as dirty food containers, unwashed yoghurt pots and food cans, soiled nappies, pet litter and dead animals – this can make the contents of the entire bin, and potentially a whole lorry load, unfit to be recycled.

In others the contamination covers things that cannot be recycled under the Council’s recycling contract, such as bedding, electrical goods, crisp packets, wood and even carrier bags and refuse sacks. In many cases there are other disposal means for these through charity shops, Household Waste Recycling Centres or by arranging an NKDC bulky or electrical item collection.
Either way, having contamination in bins comes at a cost to the Council – and therefore you, through increased Council Tax. Every load refused by the recycling contractor costs around £1,200 plus the expense of having to tip that otherwise useful stuff as landfill rubbish.

Importance of Getting it Right

Cllr Geoff Hazlewood, Executive Board Member with responsibility for recycling said: “It’s so important to get it right first time and only place items in the recycling bin that you know can be safely and successfully recycled. If in doubt, leave it out of the green-lidded bin, consult your tag saying what can be recycled and if it’s not on there either put it in the black bin or think of other ways to dispose of it at the tip, via bulky collection, composting or charity shop.”

Information about what can be recycled in you green wheelie bin is available via the downloads tab above or clicking here