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‘Room for improvement’ for South Holland’s recycling rates




Council bosses accept that there is ‘room for improvement’ after it was revealed that around a third of the waste collected in South Holland was recycled.

South Holland District Council says that it is committed to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ principles and is planning a campaign to highlight what can go in each of our bin bags.

Figures released in a council report show that 11,136.03 tonnes of waste were recycled out of a total of 35,441.03 tonnes collected in 2023/24 financial year.

South Holland District Council refuse collection
South Holland District Council refuse collection

The national target for the UK is 60% and the UK average for recycling was 44% in 2023 - which shows that South Holland is lagging behind.

Calls have been made by Green Party member, Spalding man Martin Blake, has called on the district council to learn from more successful authorities but also feels that supermarkets and companies should do their bit by reducing packaging and investing in recycling.

He said: “The most recent figures available showed that the overall UK waste recycling rate was 44%. South Holland's current rate is well below that, and in some ways it is being less ambitious than its neighbours. Many authorities are looking to separate recycling streams to a greater extent at the kerbside, while South Holland has moved in the opposite direction. Some authorities have introduced fines for those who fail to follow the rules.

Spalding man Martin Blake is calling for improvements to recycling PHOTO: STOCK
Spalding man Martin Blake is calling for improvements to recycling PHOTO: STOCK

“But public education is only part of the answer. Why do we end up recycling bottles which could perfectly well be reused? Because it's cheaper for the manufacturer and retailer to pass the responsibility on to us. Why do we bring huge amounts of unnecessary packaging home from the supermarket when we're just going to take it off and throw it away? Usually because it makes it easier for supermarkets to display commodities in a way they think will attract our attention.

“Even small towns now have independent shops where you can take your own containers and buy produce unpackaged, but I haven't seen one in our area yet.

“There are many factors which drive differences in recycling rates, some of them socio-economic, some to do with policies adopted by local councils. Would wheelie bins encourage people to recycle more? Probably not by themselves. But some Welsh authorities manage to achieve recycling rates of up to 70%. Perhaps our local political leaders could approach some authorities with much higher recycling rates to find out how it's done.”

The council is advising residents to be mindful of what can go into each bin.

A council spokesman said “The report indicates that 11,136.03 tonnes of waste were recycled out of a total of 35,441.03 tonnes collected. While this represents a good effort, we know there is room for improvement.

“To enhance our recycling rates, we are committed to following the principles of the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, and recycle. By focusing on reducing waste at the source and reusing materials whenever possible, we can significantly decrease the amount of waste that needs to be managed. Additionally, ensuring that the correct materials are placed in the recycling collection is crucial.

“We continue to encourage all residents to be mindful of what they dispose of and to make full use of the recycling services available. Coming early in the New Year is a 'What can go in each bag campaign' and we hope that our local media will support this alongside us.”

The district council conducted a survey in the autumn on whether to ditch our green and black bin bags in favour of wheelie bins ahead of the introduction of food caddies in 2026.

The survey received a total of 8,576 responses with 49% in favour of wheelie bins while 51% wanted to retain the bags.

Officers have been putting together a report looking at the different cost options for the waste service and a decision is due to be made by Cabinet members by February 18.

A decision notice on the district council’s website shows that the food caddy purchasing is progressing.

It states: “A procurement exercise has been undertaken across Lincolnshire for the supply of street caddies and kitchen caddies, ahead of the mandatory food waste collections required for all residents in 2026.

“The lowest tender has been reviewed by SELCP’s PSPS procurement team, and they have confirmed that they are unable to find a lower cost alternative. The supplier has guaranteed the price for the caddies until the end of December 2024 and requires all Lincolnshire collection authorities to place an order to ensure efficiencies of scale.

“Due to the Christmas period, purchase orders for the caddies need to be placed by December 20.”



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