Residents reminded of rules for recycling bins
Council bosses are reminding residents how they can do their bit to improve recycling rates.
Durham County Council is placing stickers on all household rubbish and recycling bins to reduce contamination of recycling after seeing a significant increase in the amount of waste and recycling produced since the pandemic.
This, they say, has also resulted in contamination levels rising in recent years, which causes significant extra costs.
Cllr Mark Wilkes, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “It’s really important that we all follow the guidelines around what to put in each bin. When the wrong items are put in the wrong bin, this is classed as contamination and the recycling can be rejected.
“We all recycle with the best intentions but by just taking a moment to review what goes where, we can all make a huge difference.”
He added: “These stickers will act as a reminder to peple and will not only help to reduce contamination but also help us to recycle, reuse or compost more waste. “That’s why we are encouraging everyone to do their bit to support us in this campaign.”
Items which are commonly found in the blue-lidded recycling bins but cannot be accepted are food waste, plastic bags and ready meal film, polystyrene, pizza boxes, nappies and pet waste, bedding and textiles and electrical items and batteries.
Details about the Durham County Council’s small electrical and battery recycling points can be found at www. durham.gov.uk/WEEE
For more information about what goes where, visit www.durham.gov.uk/whatgoeswhere