UK households could be forced to have seven bins under new laws

Keeping up with two bins is enough, so just imagine how chaotic collection day would be if you had seven to deal with.

Though this sounds like a logistical nightmare, new recycling laws could see this being a reality in the very near future.

Now, there's no denying the UK government has its work cut out for it when it comes to hitting recycling targets.

Rates have been falling in recent years, especially in England where it failed to meet the goal of recycling 50 percent of household waste by 2020.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) explained that Covid impacted the process, with rates dropping from 45.5 percent in 2019 to 44 percent in 2020, and it's been at this level ever since.

In a bid to tackle these issues, the government is planning on introducing new laws to get these numbers back up and achieve the aim to eliminate all avoidable waste by 2050.

Previously announced plans include weekly food waste collections, as well as a free service to get rid of garden waste.

David Calvert/Alamy Stock Photo

According to The Telegraph, councils will also be required to collect glass, paper and cardboard, metal and plastic for recycling, as well as general waste.

In short, this could mean having seven separate bins if these rules are made mandatory across the country.

Following a consultation on the matter last year, the results detailing the waste collection plans are expected to drop in April, although this is yet to be confirmed.

A spokesman for Defra told the outlet: "We want to make recycling easier and ensure that there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England.

"This will help increase recycled material in the products we buy and boost a growing UK recycling industry.

"We have held a public consultation on the proposed changes and will announce further details shortly."

But the concept of going with a 'one size fits all' approach has been met with scepticism.

Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East and member of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities parliamentary committee, said: "It would be of great concern if we end up with huge numbers of types of bins.

Pexels

"That would be madness. In urban environments, people already have four sets of bins and to go beyond that would be absolutely crazy."

Meanwhile, Peter Fleming, Conservative leader of Sevenoaks District Council in Kent, told the BBC: "The idea that standardisation - a national bin service - is the way forward makes absolutely no sense."

LADbible has contacted Defra for comment.

Topics: UK News, Politics, Environment

Daisy Phillipson

Daisy graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Magazine Journalism, writing a thesis on the move from print to digital publishing. Continuing this theme, she has written for a range of online publications including Digital Spy and Little White Lies, with a particular passion for TV and film. Contact her on [email protected]

@DaisyWebb77