Overview of Simpler Recycling

Please find below the answers to the following questions. These responses were written in May 2024.

On 21st October 2023 the government released the response to the 2021 consultation on consistent collections. This consultation had 896 responses. Since the consultation consistent collections has become Simpler Recycling.

What is Simpler Recycling?
How should the material be collected?
Does this mean everyone will have the same coloured bins?
Where would Simpler Recycling apply?
What are the timescales?
What types of plastic are included in Simpler Recycling?
Will there be collections for biodegradable and compostable plastic packaging?
Who will pay for the changes needed to bring in Simpler Recycling?
What else is included in Simpler Recycling?
 

What is Simpler Recycling?

All local authorities must collect the same recyclable waste streams: paper and card, plastic, glass, metal, food waste and garden waste.

Non-household municipal premises must also collect the same materials (except garden waste) and present in accordance with the arrangements.

How should the material be collected?

An exemption will be granted for all councils in England to offera minimum of 3 waste containers for dry recycling, food waste and residual waste (+ optional garden waste). This means paper and card, plastic, glass and metal can all be collected in one bin.

Does this mean everyone will have the same coloured bins?

The focus is on collecting the same material rather than using the same coloured bins.

Where would Simpler Recycling apply?

This would apply to England only.

It will cover households and non-household municpal premises. The list of premises in scope has been extended to include places of workship, penal institutions, ccharity shops and residential hostels. 

What are the timescales?

Households: 31 March 2026 (film from 31 March 2027) and microfirms (less than 10 full-time equivalent – FTE- employees).

Municipal premises: 31 March 2025 (film from 31 March 2027)

What types of plastic are included in Simpler Recycling?

Included within Plastic is:

Plastic bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET, including amorphous, recycled PET), polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)

Pots, tubs and trays made of PET (including amorphous, recycled and crystalline PET), PP (including expanded PP) and polyethylene (PE)

PE and PP plastic tubes larger than 50mm x 50mm

cartons for food, drink and other liquids, including aseptic and chilled cartons

plastic film packaging and plastic bags made of mono-polyethylene (mono-PE), mono-polypropylene (mono-PP) and mixed polyolefins PE and PP, including those metallised through vacuum or vapour deposition (to be included from 31 March 2027)

It states that the Secretary of State may add to these materials.

Will there be collections for biodegradable and compostable plastic packaging?

No requirements will be in place to separately collect biodegradable or compostable plastic packaging.

Who will pay for the changes needed to bring in Simpler Recycling?

Extended Producer Responsibility will mean that producers will be funding the collection of material. Initial estimates are that local authorities in England will collectively receive £900 million per annum for managing household packaging waste. There is a £295 m fund for capital investment for waste bins and vehicles to collect food waste. 

What else is included in Simpler Recycling?

Households and non-household municipal premises will need to have a weekly food waste collection. Currently more evidence is being gathered before guidance is given on caddy liners.

There will be a minimum frequency of at least fortnightly for residual waste collections.  

Local authorities will be required to provide a garden waste collection service but they can continue to charge for this.

Digital waste tracking will be used to collect data on what is collected. 

 

Consistent Collections of Flexible Plastics Position Statement At present in the UK most councils provide a collection service for plastic bottles, pots tubs and trays. However very few councils collect flexible plastics such as plastic film and bags. As a result, only 38% of all plastic packaging was collected from households for recycling in 2019 (source Valpak packflow October 2020).

 

Useful links

Consistent Collections of Flexible Plastics (bpf.co.uk)
Position Statement: Deposit Return Schemes (bpf.co.uk)
Material Quality and Used Plastic (bpf.co.uk)
Understanding the Debate About Plastic (bpf.co.uk)