Residents can recycle more in blue bins and waste less thanks to service changes

A greater variety of items will be able to be recycled by residents at home under improvements to the household recycling collection service taking effect in April.

The changes will help Liverpool residents recycle more, reduce waste and protect the environment – all they have to do is learn about the additional items that can be recycled and start putting them in their blue recycling bin from Wednesday 1 April.

No changes will be made to recycling collections – they will be collected on the same day as they are now.

This change is in support of the Government’s Simpler Recycling requirements introduced under the Environment Act 2021, which aims to make recycling collections more consistent across England, so everyone can recycle the same core materials.

It will help reduce confusion, improve recycling rates and support national ambitions to reach a 65 per cent municipal recycling rate by 2035 and meet Net Zero targets.

Under the changes items such as biscuit tins, aerosol sprays, foil, plastic food pots, tubs and trays and Tetra-Paks will be able to be recycled in the blue bin.

As is the case currently, once collected, mixed recycling is then sorted at a Materials Recovery Facility before being sent to specialist recycling facilities to be transformed into new products and packaging.

Please note, it is not possible to recycle items such crisp packets, plastic bags and drinking glasses from home.

For more information about the changes to household recycling in Liverpool, visit liverpool.gov.uk/bins.

 Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene said: “Over the past few months, we’ve seen a real improvement in recycling across Liverpool.

“People have told us that they’re keen to recycle more but want to be able to put more items into their blue recycling bins. From April, this will be possible for all households in the city.

“Yogurt pots, juice cartons and plastic trays will all be collected as part of your regular recycling before being taken away to be made into something new.

“By recycling more together, we can help create a cleaner, greener Liverpool.”

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive MRWA, which is responsible for waste disposal, and Co-Lead of the LCR Waste & Resources Partnership, said: “These changes are a fantastic step forward, making it simpler for residents to recycle more and waste less directly from home.

“Reducing confusion around everyday items – such as aerosols, yoghurt pots, food trays, foil and Tetra-Paks – helps us all protect the environment and ensures more of our waste is transformed into valuable new products.”