The Worcestershire council has claimed householders are incorrectly placing textiles, nappies and food waste in their green wheeled bins, which are collected fortnightly and designated for mixed dry recyclables.
In one recent incident in Wychavon, three tonnes of recyclables had to be landfilled after they became contaminated with engine oil. The council insists it is a ‘national problem’.
The council warns that if the problem persists it is prepared to fine residents and even take court action.
Contamination of recycling has become a region-wide problem. Around 1,800 tonnes of waste had to be sorted out from recycling loads across Herefordshire and Worcestershire between April and June 2015 – about 9% of all material collected from households.
The two county councils have worked together in recent years to provide a joint commingled recycling system. In 2009, a £10 million materials recycling facility (MRF) was opened in Norton to process recyclables from both authorities.
The EnviroSort plant, which was developed by local firm Severn Waste Services, sorts and processes around 105,000 tonnes of cans, paper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles per year before it is sent on to markets in the UK and Europe (see letsrecycle.com story).
Councillor Anthony Bragg, cabinet member with responsibility for environment on Worcestershire county council, said landfilling currently costs taxpayers in the county around £11 million. The council argues that the higher quality of recycling received, the more these disposal costs can be cut.
Labels
Wychavon council staff already carries out spot checks, while collection crews put labels on bins that have a high level of contamination. The next few months will see the checks targeted where levels are known to be highest – with householders to be offered advice and information before the council considers penalties.
In 2013/14, Wychavon achieved a recycling rate of 43%. It remains to be seen whether the council has hit the 45% target by March 2015 set under Worcestershire and Herefordshire’s joint waste strategy.
Councillor Emma Stokes, portfolio holder for environment on Wychavon District Council, said: “There are those who deliberately and persistently contaminate their recycling and for the most serious offences we are prepared to fine people and take court action if necessary.
“While we can only collect certain things in the green bins from the kerbside, the Household Recycling Centre at Hill and Moor is able to take a wider range of items.”
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