There are ‘massive disparities’ in the number of bins that UK councils ask residents to sort their rubbish into, a new survey has revealed.
The survey by the TaxPayers’ Alliance found that some councils have as many as 10 bins and others have as few as two.
The campaign group identified eleven bin types offered by local authorities: general waste, dry mixed recycling, food waste, paper and card, garden waste, glass, plastics, batteries, textiles, waste electrical and electronic equipment and coffee pods.
Blaenau Gwent, Cotswold and Merthyr Tydfil councils all collect 10 bins out of this list, while Gosport collects just two.
The survey also found that almost 70% of councils now charge for an extra bin service, most commonly garden waste.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance claims that councils are turning one of their ‘most vital roles into an unnecessary burden for residents at a cost to taxpayers.’
A spokesperson for the Local Government Association (LGA) said public satisfaction on local waste services remains high, adding that it is important for councils to retain ‘flexibility’ when it comes to recycling.
A Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to reducing waste and increasing recycling rates whilst making this process simpler for the public.
‘Further announcements on delivering the recycling reforms will follow in due course.’
Check out: Solving the UK’s 'wishcycling' problem.
