Wheelie bins boosting recycling rates

Councils using wheelie bins have increased recycling and reduced landfill, according to a poll by the Local Government Association (LGA).


Every council that responded to the LGA’s poll said the use of wheelie bins as part of kerbside rise had increased recycling rates.

One town hall even reported recycling levels jumping from 4% to 38% and another from 19% to 60%.

Richard Kemp, deputy chair of the LGA, said: “All the evidence shows people like their wheelie bins and think they make it easier and cleaner to throw out the rubbish.

“Residents have to store their rubbish somewhere without it smelling, attracting vermin and potentially getting strewn across the street.

“Wheelie bins help families store their rubbish safely and they encourage people to recycle more, which helps keep council tax down.

“As a nation we throw more rubbish into the ground than almost any other country in Europe. Wheelie bins are usually introduced in order to encourage people to recycle more.

“The tax that is paid on throwing rubbish in the ground adds £30 to council tax bills every year, so recycling is a great way of keeping council tax down.”

Council increase in recycling since the introduction of wheelie bins

East Staffordshire 21% increase

Stafford 33% to 49%

Surrey Heath 30% to 50%

Weymouth 18% to 45%

Burnley 12% to 33%

North Norfolk 17% to 46%

Mansfield 4% to 38%

Blackpool 30% increase

Craven 9% to 35%

Poole 18% to 40%

Hartlepool 27% to 37%

Worthing 25% increase

Derbyshire Dales 17% to 42%

Mole Valley 17% to 51%

Uttlesford 25% to 54%

Bournemouth 23% to 41%

Torridge 21% to 37%

Rochford 19% to 60%

Hastings 18 to 27%

Telford and Wrekin 12% to 38%

South Lakeland 8% to 45%

Bexley 37% to 50%

Welwyn Hatfield 4% to 14% in first year

Eastleigh 12% to 43%

South Somerset 15% to 49%

Taunton Dean 20% to 49%

Watford 13% to 41%

Harrow 9 % to 43%

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