Major change to UK bin collections planned as councils simplify waste collections

Bin collections are set to become simpler for thousands across the UK (Image: Getty)

Households are set to have simpler bin collections in new plans to put plastic, metal, glass, paper, and card in one bin.

Residents in some parts of the UK are currently faced with separating their recycling into separate bins, making the process complicated for some.

But in new plans announced by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), people will no longer have to check which materials their specific council will accept for recycling.

The move will also reduce complexity for waste collectors and boost recycling rates, it added.

The plans will apply to all homes in England, including flats. DEFRA added that it is supporting councils to reduce the number of overflowing bins in some areas.

A minimum backstop will be introduced - so councils are expected to collect black bin waste at least fortnightly, alongside weekly food waste collections.

Recycling Minister Robbie Moore said: "We all want to do our bit to increase recycling and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill - but a patchwork of different bin collections across England means it can be hard to know what your council will accept.

"Our plans for Simpler Recycling will end that confusion: ensuring that the same set of materials will be collected regardless of where you live."

Similar measures will also apply to businesses, hospitals, schools and universities, places of worship, charity shops, hostels and public meeting places.

Paul Vanston, chief executive of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN), said: "Householders can take this government announcement as a pledge that, wherever we live across the nation, our local councils will all speedily implement recycling collections of the full range of materials that will match on-pack recycling labels citizens rely on for guidance."