Staffordshire councils to switch to twin-stream

The changes will be introduced across Cannock Chase, Tamworth, Lichfield, South Staffordshire and East Staffordshire in April 2022.

According to the waste partnership, the market for recycled material has become “more focused on quality”, and by collecting paper and card separately it can ensure better quality material.

A statement from Cannock Chase council said: “Greater value will also be achieved from the mixed paper and card, as it will not be contaminated with other materials. In addition, by recycling the right items in the blue bin it means the Council will also not be recharged for rejected/contaminated loads at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF).”

The partnership currently sends its recyclables to Biffa’s MRF in Cannock.

Currently, residents have a blue bin for recyclables, a brown one for garden waste and a green or grey one for general waste.

Under the new plans, residents will be supplied with a bag for cardboard and paper, to be separate from other recyclables.

Costs

Announcements that the plans are to go ahead come in despite of reports that the twin stream service will increase costs (see letsrecycle.com story).

Last month, a report from Lichfield district council revealed that the twin stream service would cost an extra £100,000, due to the rising prices of bins and recycling bags amid “a national plastic shortage”.

Consistency

The twin stream collection brings the Staffordshire Waste Partnership in line with Defra’s preferred collection approach.

Under the government’s consistency proposals, Defra wants local authorities to collect recyclable waste streams separately from each other , claiming this results in better quality of material and thus a higher price.

Although, it has recently confirmed that councils will have the flexibility to collect recyclables together.

Where it is not technically, environmentally, and economically practicable (TEEP) to collect the streams separately, local authorities can decide to collect two or more together upon completion of a written assessment.