Plans to spark a recycling revolution in West Suffolk go to Council

08 Oct 2024

Proposals to significantly improve recycling in West Suffolk, including increasing the range and volume of products that can saved from household rubbish are set to be discussed.

Working together in response to Government legislation, Suffolk’s district and borough authorities - Babergh, East Suffolk, Ipswich, Mid Suffolk and West Suffolk Councils – have been reviewing their waste and recycling services to meet new nationwide ‘Simpler Recycling’ requirements by 31 March 2026.

At their meeting, Tuesday, 17 September, West Suffolk’s Cabinet backed plans to increase the existing ‘dry’ recycling collection service from April 2026 by including glass and cartons; with plastic film to be incorporated the following year. This will be in addition to a brand-new weekly food waste collection, which is to be introduced across the county in the Spring of 2026.

Now the decision to increase the number of items that can be recycled while retaining collection of household waste every two weeks will be discussed at the council meeting on Tuesday, 15 October.

Cllr Dave Taylor, Cabinet Member for Operations, said: “The options that we and other councils are looking at will bring a real recycling revolution to Suffolk. Government legislation through the Environment Act 2021 that requires all local authorities to meet new recycling requirements by 2026. While this represents a challenge to local authorities and to households, it also provides an incredible, once in a generation opportunity to take a big leap forward.

“By introducing a twin stream recycling waste collection service like many other councils have across the country, communities can increase recycling rates and reduce the waste which is unnecessarily disposed. This meets the ambitions of our communities, the Government’s requirements and more importantly the authority’s strategic priority of a resilient environment.

“We have listened to our residents who have asked to be able to recycle more at home. Helping residents recycle, including food waste, and providing them with the facilities to do so is vital to achieve this. But people now need to do their bit and make sure everything that can goes in the recycling bins. We have looked at a range of options but it is clear using additional bins as part of twin stream recycling has clear benefits. These collections will allow more items to be recycled, reducing contamination and the cost of the recycling compared with co-mingled collections. Evidence also shows that higher quality materials result in higher resale values for those materials and better re-processing for re-use in new products.”

If approved by council, this approach will mean an extra recycling bin and food waste caddy. It will also introduce weekly recycling and food waste collections and result in less rubbish in household bins. Household waste bins will continue to be collected fortnightly.

It is envisioned where some households may have difficulty with extra bins, the council will work with them to establish workable solutions.

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