Families could be issued with four bins as Government cracks down on 'wild west' recycling

Households across the nation could soon see up to four bins for waste separation as part of new guidelines issued to local councils, aiming to improve recycling processes.

The proposed system will require local authorities to supply residents and workplaces with four types of containers: one for non-recyclable rubbish, another for food and green waste, a third for paper and cardboard, and a fourth for assorted recyclables.

Presently, some homes are obliged to sort their waste into as many as seven different bins. The options for these containers include bins, bags, or stackable boxes. In 2021, legislation was passed that identified recyclables as glass, plastic, food waste, paper, and card, leading some councils to provide separate bins for each category.

The implementation of these new regulations is set for March 31 next year for commercial recyclable waste collection and will take effect a year later for residential properties. Environment Secretary Steve Reed has addressed the issue, stating that communities have been burdened by an "avalanche of rubbish" in our streets, rivers, and oceans.

"Today we end the Conservative fiasco that would force households across the country to have seven bins," he said. "This Labour Government is ending the Wild West and introducing a streamlined approach to recycling to end to the postcode lottery, simplify bin collections and clean up our streets for good."

Additionally, the guidance specifies that from March 31, 2026, all waste authorities are expected to offer weekly food waste collections to households, enabling people to dispose of smelly organic waste more frequently.

Household recycling rates in England have plateaued at 45% since 2015, as per Government figures. The Government has stated that the four-bin default system is not anticipated to expand in the future, allowing councils and waste collectors to "still have the flexibility to make the best choices to suit local need".

Last year, English households disposed of 5.6 million tonnes of packaging, reveals a study commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA), County Councils Network (CCN), and District Councils Network (DCN). The research indicated that out of this, 3.2 million tonnes were recycled, 2.3 million tonnes went into general waste – or "black" bins, while 70,000 tonnes were incorrectly thrown in with food waste.