Green waste bid to improve South Holland recycling rate

Council chiefs hope a rapid expansion of the area’s garden waste collections can boost South Holland’s poor record on recycling.

The latest available figures show that just 28.1% of South Holland’s household waste was sent for reuse, recycling or composting in 2019/20.

That’s the lowest figure in Lincolnshire and well short of the 43.8% England average.

The Government wants at least 65% of waste to be recycled by 2035 – and has also revealed plans to have a major overhaul to the way waste is collected in the UK (see below).

A district council spokesman said there’s been a big uptake in the amount of brown bin garden waste collections in the last year and that this should boost our figures.

They said: “Garden waste collections form a key part of these recorded figures, which show the percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting.

“In South Holland this service was introduced in recent years through a limited roll-out and has expanded significantly in the last 12 months, as residents on the waiting list were offered the chance to join.

“This process has resulted in more than 1,500 new sign-ups, bringing the total number of participating households in the district to around 7,000.

“Although other Lincolnshire councils have more established schemes, the continued growth of the service will hopefully see an improvement in our recycling rates for future years.”

The district’s recycling rate was 33.81% in 2008/09 but has not been above 30% since 2014/15, when it was 30.8%.

South Kesteven recycles 40.3% of its waste – and all parts of the county bar Lincoln City Council and Boston recycle more than 40%.

The garden waste subscription costs £52 for 24 collections across the year - as well as a £16 charge for the delivery and loan of a brown bin.

Government wants a food waste collection

A weekly food waste collection could be mandatory for all homes as part of new Government plans to boost recycling.

A consultation is under way on a scheme that would standardise the rules on what can be recycled.

It could also decide that garden waste collections should be free – and set minimum standards for rubbish and recycling collections.

South Holland District Council chiefs have urged people to have their say on the plans.

A spokesman told the Free Press: “Following the Government’s announcement of the proposed national changes to recycling collections, the council are working with the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership on a county-wide response to the plans.

“In their current state, these proposals would see a large-scale change to the way waste is collected for residents and councils across the country. It is important that people take the opportunity to have a say on these changes, and anyone who would like to read the consultation and share their thoughts should do so on the DEFRA website before the deadline of July 4.”

The Government said it would support councils to deliver the new collections and will force the packaging sector to foot the bill for managing its waste.

Environment secretary George Eustice said: “Regular food and garden waste collections will ensure that they can get rid of their rubbish faster, at no additional cost to them.

“Our proposals will boost recycling rates, and ensure that less rubbish is condemned to landfill.”

The consultation can be found at https://consult.defra.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling/consistency-in-household-and-business-recycling/