Only 10% of street litter is recycled according to new report

Despite the fact that the Government and regional councils have strict recycling targets, up to 90% of rubbish collected in street litter bins is failing to be recycled according to a recent study by waste management company BusinessWaste.co.uk.

The report found that most of the litter collected on the streets of England and Wales is collected as general waste and is being sent to landfill. This is believed to be largely due to the fact that over half of our councils are still using old style non-compartmentalised litter bins. As part of their research, the company also found that although 45% of councils in England and Wales had installed compartmentalised street bins to encourage recycling, these were generally purchased in small numbers, usually situated in town centre locations.

According to additional research by the Chartered Institute for Waste Management (CIWM), some councils cited austerity cuts and budgetary concerns as one of the reasons for their failure to invest in recycling bins. Other reasons for the low recycling figures included public misuse where bins have been installed.

“I am surprised to see the on-the-street recycling figures so low,” comments Amberol’s MD, Patience Atkinson-Gregory. “We know from our work with local authorities across the UK that recycling is a high priority, but it seems that many still need to invest in more appropriate units for collecting street litter. Without access to recycling bins in public places, people will simply use whatever bin they can find – and this is a valuable opportunity lost.”

She adds: “The councils that we supply include some of the busiest areas such as Westminster and Wandsworth and both report that the use of well-designed recycling units have hugely increased their recycling rates. Good design is also essential to success: the apertures need to be the appropriate size and shape, whilst colour, branding and signage is also important to ensure that people know what to recycle and where. Our recycling bins, such as the Olympic Dual Bin are designed with these specific factors in mind.”

Recycling also offers a source of revenue for organisations as Patience explains. “Of course, hard pressed councils need to watch their spending, but it’s also important to remember that recycling can also generate income. In fact, long term, recycling bins should at least go some way towards paying for themselves,” she adds.

According to Let’s Recycle, the price for clear and light blue PET plastic bottles is between £120-£160 per tonne, whilst newspapers and pamphlets currently generate up to £50 per tonne. 

To see the CIWM report ‘Waste on the frontline – challenges and innovations’, visit www.ciwm.co.uk.

To see the full range of Amberol bins, click here.