Households across the UK have been issued a warning about using black bin liners in their garden waste and recycling bins.
There are strict rules in place around what you can and cannot put in different waste bins, but households may not be aware that using black bin liners is a problem. Waste experts are warning households not to line their garden waste or recycling bins with black bin liners as these bags cannot be processed and are a form of contamination. The bags are difficult for sorting machines to identify and can clog the machinery, and so they fall under a list of non-recyclable items.
Households that are found to be using black bin liners in their garden waste or recycling bin can face being fined by their local council and bins can be refused for collection.
Ali Ligee, waste management expert at Rubbish.com, said garden waste errors tend to spike at this time of the year just before councils pause or reduce their collections for winter.
Lijee warned: “People rush to clear up their gardens before the service ends and end up putting all sorts of things in the wrong bin. Soil, stones, plastic pots, even food, all of these can contaminate green waste and cause entire lorry loads to be rejected.
“While most local authorities issue warnings first, repeat offenders can be fined or have their bins left uncollected. It’s the time of year when a little care really matters. A few common errors can easily cost you.
“Plastic bags are one of the worst offenders. People think lining their garden bin will make it cleaner, but those bags can’t be processed and often end up choking the composting equipment.”
Garden waste should go straight into the bin loose or wrapped in compostable liners approved by your local council.
Using black bin liners or standard plastic sacks can turn a perfectly good bin load into contaminated waste, and if caught, can result in households being issued warnings or fines for misuse. Some councils state explicitly that bins with visible plastic contamination will be refused collection.
Lijee added: “That’s frustrating when you’ve spent hours cleaning up leaves. But it’s not the crews’ fault. Once a bag breaks, the whole load’s ruined.”
