New recycling rules came into force across England on March 31, meaning certain household items can no longer be placed in your recycling bin
Earlier this year, new recycling regulations were implemented across England(Image: Jessie Casson via Getty Images)
New recycling regulations implemented across England on March 31 mean particular items can no longer go in your recycling bins, with households risking non-collection if they fail to comply. While the Simpler Recycling scheme offers numerous advantages, it undeniably complicates the decluttering process.
The Simpler Recycling regulations mean councils and waste collection services are no longer obliged to collect specific items from domestic recycling bins.
This affects recycling materials frequently discovered throughout your property and garden.
Below are the typical household items that must not be placed in your recycling bins.
Irons
Vast quantities of electrical goods are bought annually, yet only a modest fraction, especially smaller items, are currently collected for recycling.
Unwanted electrical appliances, such as an iron, must not go in the bin – should your iron be defective and unsuitable for donation, you can take items to your local Recycling Centre, reports the Mirror.
Candle jars have been excluded from recycling
Candles
Most local authorities across the UK state that they accept clean glass bottles and jars in domestic recycling. Candle jars appear to fall into this bracket, but several complications have led to their exclusion from your recycling now.
Candle jars frequently contain residual wax, soot and metal wick holders, while many feature stickers, adhesive decorations or mixed-material lids. Additionally, certain jars are manufactured from heat-resistant glass, which has a different melting point compared to standard packaging glass.
From a waste-reduction perspective, reusing the jar is almost always preferable to recycling it.
Old candle jars can be repurposed in several ways:
- Containers for refilled candles
- Bathroom storage for cotton buds or toothbrushes
- Desk pots for pens and pencils
- Small plant pots (with a bit of drainage added)
Light bulbs and tubes
Given the extensive variety of lighting products available, knowing how to recycle lights and light bulbs can be puzzling.
All domestic light bulbs and tubes can be reused or recycled, but definitely not in your household waste or recycling.
This is because certain light bulbs contain potentially hazardous materials, such as mercury. Always remove bulbs from their fittings before recycling them.
Certain light bulbs contain potentially hazardous materials
Vases
While you might assume vases are suitable for glass recycling, they aren’t. It’s advised that you avoid placing vases in with standard glass recycling.
This is due to their varying glass compositions, similar to drinking glasses. Consequently, this can create complications during the remelting phase of the recycling process.
If you need to dispose of vases, consider donating them to a charity shop or giving them to friends or family.
Mirrors
Mirrors typically have a metallic coating, so they cannot be disposed of in standard glass recycling bins. This coating would contaminate pure glass materials intended for recycling.
The recommended approach is to transport the mirror to your nearest recycling centre, where it will be handled and disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
If the mirror remains in good condition, consider donating it to a charity shop or offering it to friends or family members who might find it useful.