Residents in North Lincolnshire will soon be able to recycle plastic food containers and bottle tops and lids again, following the council’s decision to switch materials recovery facility (MRF) operator.

In March of this year, SITA UK (which signed a recycling contract with North Lincolnshire Council in 2012) was notified by its MRF operator that it would no longer accept plastic food containers or bottle tops and lids of a certain polymer type (one, two and five) in recycling bins due to the risk of contamination.

This reportedly led to increased costs for the council, and a decision was taken to reduce the range of plastics accepted down to just plastic bottles in an attempt to reduce the contamination problem.

However, the council has said that it has now found a MRF operator that will accept these materials for recycling.

As such, from 29 September, residents will be able to recycle these materials in their burgundy recycling bins (for cardboard and plastic bottles) once again, as well as recycle food cartons (such as juice cartons) for the first time.

Contamination ‘not as bad as claimed’

A spokesperson for the council told Resource that SITA had been sending test loads of materials to a range of MRF operators for the last six months and has now chosen one to use henceforth.

The council added that the MRF operator had identified that contamination was ‘not as bad as the [previous operator] had claimed’ and, as such, SITA was able to hold ‘meaningful negotiations’ to put together the new service.

In due course, residents will receive a leaflet and new bin sticker giving collection dates and details of what they can and can’t put in the burgundy bin. The changes will not affect their other recycling bins (for glass and cans; paper; and garden waste).

Councillor Liz Redfern, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We have listened to residents and taken on board their comments. As a result, we have been working behind the scenes to improve the service. We are working with a different company to process the waste so [residents] can now recycle more.

“We have a current recycling rate of 44 per cent. We would like to see this increase further and hope that making it easier to recycle will help... People are doing a fantastic job in recycling their waste, and I’d like to thank them for their efforts.”

Bins may not be emptied if contamination continues

However, residents have also been warned that if bins continue to be contaminated (with rubbish, such as food waste, in the wrong bins, for example), the council may refuse to empty it.

John Coates, Head of the council’s waste services, explained: “It is vitally important that people don’t put their rubbish in the wrong bin. It is costing taxpayers thousands of pounds in landfill costs simply because some people can’t be bothered to separate their rubbish. It costs us around £40 more for every tonne of waste that goes to landfill – this is waste that could have been recycled. Unfortunately, it is the minority of people who are spoiling it for others.

“From now on, if people put their rubbish in the wrong bins, we will attach a tag politely asking them not to do it again. If they continue, they will receive a visit from a recycling officer who will guide them through [what] they can put in their bins. And if this doesn’t work, as a last resort, we won’t empty the bin. It’s as simple as that. Particularly if food waste or general rubbish is put in the wrong bin. This can contaminate the whole contents and therefore can’t be recycled, and costs the council money to send it to landfill.”

Find out more about recycling in North Lincolnshire.