A survey by the TaxPayers’ Alliance has highlighted stark disparities in the number of bins that UK councils require residents to use for sorting waste, with some councils providing as many as 10 different bins, and others offering as few as two.
Among the councils, Blaenau Gwent, Cotswold, and Merthyr Tydfil stand out for collecting 10 different types of bins, whereas Gosport collects just two.
Many are calling for the system to be simplified. John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, expressed concern over the complexity of waste separation systems.
“Councils across the UK are placing an enormous burden on households through the often mind-bogglingly complex system of waste separation,” he said. “Bin collection is one of the key services taxpayers fund yet in large parts of the country it’s the residents themselves responsible for much of the heavy lifting.
“Recent proposals to simplify the system should be fully enacted across the whole of the United Kingdom.”
The research also revealed that almost 70 per cent of councils now charge homeowners to dispose of garden waste, as local authorities look for new ways to raise revenue. The TaxPayers’ Alliance argues that councils are turning one of their most vital roles into an unnecessary burden for residents, ultimately costing taxpayers more.
The eleven types of bins offered by local authorities:
- general waste
- dry mixed recycling
- food waste
- paper and card
- garden waste
- glass
- plastics
- batteries
- textiles
- waste electrical and electronic equipment
- coffee pods
A survey by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) found that nine in ten people regularly recycle, but often get it wrong, contaminating the rest of the recycling and causing problems for waste processing facilities. Arguably, this issue is alleviated through the provision of more specific waste categories, but involves more time, effort and organisation from residents.
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In response to the findings, a spokesperson for the Local Government Association (LGA) emphasised that public satisfaction with local waste services remains high, and that it’s important for councils to retain flexibility when it comes to recycling. Similarly, a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) stated that the government is committed to reducing waste and increasing recycling rates while making the process simpler for the public.
The debate continues on whether these differences are justified or if a more standardised approach is needed to balance efficiency and public convenience.
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