Recycling simplified across Leicestershire

The majority of county residents are now able to recycle exactly the same materials in their recycling wheelie bins wherever they live in the county. 

Six district councils have worked together to produce one simple list of what can and cannot be put into the recycling bin.  It is hoped that not only will this offer better consistency for residents countywide, but that it will also encourage residents to recycle more things, more often.

You can view a complete list of items that can be recycled here.

Until recently, when recycling bins were emptied by crews in each council area, the contents were taken to several different recycling sites for sorting.  Each recycling site had different rules and different processes which meant items that could be recycled in some districts could not be recycled in others. That changed last year and now recycling collections from most districts - Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton and Oadby & Wigston - are now taken to a single materials recycling facility in Leicester which has enabled the councils to team up for the first time.

Up to date information on what the recycling is used for is also available at www.lesswaste.org.uk

Beverley Jolly, Joint Chief Executive of Harborough District Council and Leicestershire Districts’ Lead on Waste said: "It's been a source of some frustration to Leicestershire residents for some time that items that can be recycled by some councils cannot be recycled by others.  It's also an issue that WRAP, the national waste and resources action programme, is keen to tackle as their research says that inconsistency leads to confusion and puts people off recycling so we were keen to work together to produce a single list for recycling that applies countywide. We really hope this will make recycling easier than ever for Leicestershire residents, leading to more recycling and less waste going to landfill.”

Ends

Notes to Editor

Issued on behalf of Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton and Oadby & Wigston district councils.

For more information contact Caroline Roffey, Head of Street Scene Services at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council on 01455 255782.