Rotherham Council is stepping up efforts to tackle bin contamination, which costs the local authority over ยฃ1 million each year in additional disposal expenses and lost recycling revenue
The initiative, designed to reduce contamination, boost recycling rates, and lower the costs of improper waste disposal, could save the council over ยฃ1 million annually, according to a report. This amount reflects the extra fees for waste disposal and the loss of potential recycling income caused by contamination.
A pilot scheme, set to begin in April 2025, will involve residents from two yet-to-be-identified areas. The council plans to implement a โtraffic lightโ system for monitoring household recycling compliance:
Rotherham Council said โAll bins will be visually checked prior to collection. Any recycling or garden waste container found to be contaminated will not be emptied. A contamination tag will be placed on the bin, informing the resident of the non-collection and the reason for contamination.
- First Offence: A yellow tag will be placed on contaminated recycling bins as a warning.
- Second Offence: An orange tag and a formal letter will warn of potential fines.
- Third Offence: A red tag will accompany a fixed penalty notice
The council will use waste management software to verify whether a bin was genuinely missed or tagged for contamination if disputes arise.
Additionally, the policy includes measures to address bins left on the kerbside past 7pm on collection day, with potential enforcement actions if they are not promptly removed.
Before the policy is fully implemented, a public consultation and educational outreach will be conducted to inform residents about the changes, the report will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Monday.
