The government has taken the ‘first step’ towards solving its recycling strategy for local authorities with a new initiative that looks to streamline the process.
According to The Grocer, Defra has introduced a scheme called Simpler Recycling, where starting from March 2026, all local authorities will be required to collect glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, food waste and garden waste.
These plans were previously modified after prime minister Rishi Sunak said he was scrapping plans that could have forced all homes to have seven bins.
While many food and drink bosses have welcomed the change, some said far more needed to be done by the government to address holes in its recycling strategy – such as tackling the delayed roll out of extended producer responsibility (EPR).
Data from Defra revealed that in 2021, over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste was generated, with just 44.4% recycled.
There are more than 390 different local authorities across the UK, with around 40 different bin regimes – including many that are at odds with neighbouring councils – which has been blocking an effective nationwide recycling system for years.
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FDF director of corporate affairs and packaging, Jim Bligh told The Grocer: “We’re pleased to see the government publishing their much-delayed plans for Simpler Recycling today, and making a first step towards creating the conditions necessary to establish a circular economy in the UK.
“Making it easier for households to recycle the same materials wherever they live in England is critical to driving up England’s recycling and reuse rates. Food and drink producers will soon be paying an annual bill of £2bn to fund EPR.”
He added: “Getting Simpler Recycling up and running quickly, efficiently and effectively is therefore important to us and government will need to act decisively to ensure sufficient investment now goes into Britain’s fragmented and dated recycling infrastructure.”
BRC director of food and sustainability, Andrew Opie said: “We welcome the publication of the government’s plans, which we hope will result in more recyclable material being collected through kerbside collection.
“Such consistency across England will allow for simpler messaging from retailers to support their customers’ efforts to recycle. What we still need to see is the comprehensive plan to deliver a meaningful shift in recycling rates in the UK.”
The news comes as the first whole-town trial of a digital deposit return scheme (DDRS) has shown a preference for bottles to be recycled at home rather than at reverse vending machines (RVMs) in supermarkets.
