Households urged to put lids on glass jars amid major bin rule changes

Households urged to put lids on glass jars amid major bin rule changes There has been huge changes to bin collections in England Households across England have been warned not to be caught out by new bin rules following changes to recycling. Fail to follow the latest guidelines and your rubbish may be left uncollected. The UK's Simpler Recycling reforms, introduced under the Environment Act 2021, have made consistent recycling mandatory for businesses and households throughout England. This means separate collections are now required for food waste, paper and card, glass, metal and plastic. Local authorities must provide clear guidance on what can and cannot be recycled, though some councils are exempt from the new regulations until at least 2040. It is essential to check with your local council to find out whether these new rules apply to you. Councils have the power to determine how they collect metal, glass and plastic. The government is urging local authorities to collect metal lids and caps together with the jars they came from. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' guidance reads: "Metal lids and caps on glass containers (for example, metal jam jar lids) can be left on and recycled with glass. "Putting the lids or caps back on glass jars and bottles and recycling them with glass reduces the chance of them getting lost through the sorting process." As a result, households are advised to keep lids and caps on jars and bottles when placing them in the recycling bin. Always ensure you rinse and clean out any food or liquid residue beforehand. Recycle Now has also provided guidance regarding glass recycling. It said: "Empty and give a quick rinse. Leftover liquid can contaminate other recyclables, which may mean they aren't recycled. "Put lids and caps back on. This reduces the chance of them getting lost during the sorting process as they can be recycled separately." Corks need to be taken off bottles prior to recycling, though they can be composted at home. When recycling glass at a bottle bank, blue glass should go in alongside green glass. The updated bin regulations have also introduced changes to which bathroom items are recyclable. Always check with your local council whether the rule is in force in your area. The revised guidelines mean councils aren't required to recycle absorbent hygiene products including nappies, period products and incontinence products. Cotton wool and makeup pads aren't recyclable, and the same applies to tissues or wet wipes. Toilet paper should only go down the toilet, while mirrors cannot be recycled at home and must be taken to a recycling centre.