Norwich environmentalist says recycling changes don't go far enough
Under new rules, people will be able to put plastic, metal, glass, paper and card in one bin
An environmentalist and local decision-maker in Norwich is telling us changes to recycling rules need to be part of a wider plan to reduce the rubbish we create.
It's as the government's announced, in an effort to end confusion about where glass, metal and paper can be binned, recyclables will soon all be able to go in one bin for collection.
"The end goal has to be to reduce it"
Gary Champion is a green party councillor and represents Sewell Ward: "Conversations I've had with those who work at recycling centres is that they have to wear special gloves, as they've found things like knives and broken glass in there.
"I think it's really important that we effectively communicate what can be recycled and what can't.
"This is just a mechanism to allow us to be more effective with recycling, the end goal has to be to reduce it.
"That involves life-style changes from all of us, while corporations and Governments take the lead. We also have to make sure that we're not exporting the problem to other countries.
"Our levels of rubbish that we export are increasing, year on year. It means that we are not recycling in the proper sense.
"If we want to deal with this from an environmental standpoint then we need to ensure that we recycle what we create, so that it isn't just moved on."
The new rules
Under the new rules, people will be able to put plastic, metal, glass, paper and card in one bin.
The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said the new measures will mean households no longer have to check which materials their specific council will accept for recycling.
Defra said the plans will apply to all homes in England, including flats, while similar measures will apply to non-household municipal premises, including businesses, hospitals, schools and universities, places of worship, penal institutes, charity shops, hostels and public meeting places.
Elsewhere, the Government said it is supporting councils to increase the frequency of collections in a bid to prevent bins from cluttering streets.
A minimum backstop will be introduced so that councils are expected to collect black bin waste at least fortnightly, alongside weekly food waste collections, it announced.
"Will end that confusion"
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."