Rutland Aims to Waste Less and Recycle More
Rutland County Council is urging residents to join their efforts in reducing waste and increasing recycling rates. A recent composition analysis of Rutland's bins revealed that a significant portion of waste could be recycled or reduced.
The analysis showed that 43% of household waste consists of food, and 16% comprises recyclables that could be placed in the grey recycling bin. This means over half of what residents put in their black bins could be recycled or reduced.
Recyclables found in black bins include cardboard, metal, glass, and plastic. All of these materials (except black plastic) can be recycled in the grey bin and collected at kerbside. For more information on what can be recycled, please visit the Recycling and reducing waste page. https://www.rutland.gov.uk/bins-waste-recycling/recycling-reducing-waste
Cllr Christine Wise, Rutland County Council's Portfolio Holder for Transport, Environment, and Communities, emphasised the importance of reducing waste and recycling more. She stated that it not only benefits the environment but also helps reduce financial pressures on the council and residents' own expenses.
The council is encouraging residents to participate in the Waste Less, Recycle More campaign by planning meals, using leftovers, understanding what can be recycled, and ensuring recycling is clean, dry, and loose.
National waste reforms require all local authorities to introduce a statutory food waste collection by 2026. Rutland County Council's municipal waste strategy has been updated to incorporate these requirements and explore new exemptions for the waste and recycling collection service.
Cllr Wise noted that the introduction of food waste collections will add financial pressure to the service but is essential based on the composition analysis. She highlighted the potential to reduce waste in black bins by almost half through food waste collection alone and further reduce waste by recycling more.
The council is committed to providing residents with the necessary information and support to make waste reduction and recycling easier. A report to Cabinet made recommendations on a new food waste service, dry mixed recycling (DMR), and residual waste collection in Rutland, considering the financial implications of the new food waste service.
