Transparent wheelie bins with colour-coded lids will aid recycling and harmonisation
Transparent wheelie bins with colour-coded lids could be introduced to aid recycling and harmonisation across North Northamptonshire, if recommendations from the Government’s so-called Waste Tsar are implemented.
The area’s move to unified services continue ‘at pace’, despite delays to the introduction of food waste collections in Kettering and Wellingborough which will see all residents with four bins.
But alongside these changes, the new report has suggested see-through bins allowing at-a-glance enforcement which could help local authorities.
Each year, tonnes of recycled waste is ‘contaminated’ by householders failing to sort items correctly – and the new bins may be manufactured from recycled plastics – a ‘win, win’ for the environment.
Waste Tsar Lady Flora Poli said: “People are becoming far more conscious of recycling and we are always looking at ways to improve services.
“The introduction of transparent receptacles could help councils enforce policies. If you’ve got nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.
"This is a win-win for the environment and it means we can all play our part in helping the planet.”
The former legacy councils in Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northants each supplied different coloured bins.
Members of the public have expressed their confusion when disposing of waste.
Some areas have brown garden waste bins, others green; some residents throw general waste into black bins, others into green; and recycling could go into any number of colours depending on your postcode.
The report has suggested using coloured lids to the new see-through style bins with green for garden waste, black for general waste, polka dots for recyclables and chocolate brown for food waste.
Currently, council operatives are unable to collect hundreds of bins as they do not comply with rules – garden waste being ‘hidden’ in general waste and valuable items such as aluminium cans going to landfill.
In other parts of the country, stickers have been sent out to enable DIY transformation of bin lids or those with an artistic side can apply for a swatch and paint their own.
Using a QR code, residents are given easy-to-follow instructions on how to fit the old bin lids to the new transparent ones.
Fears that being able to see what neighbours have thrown away could lead to ‘bin shaming’ on Facebook groups have been dismissed.
Lady Poli added: “Binning the old system in North Northants will provide a reset and a step in the right direction for harmonisation.
“People have been promised transparency in local government – and we are delivering.”
A report from consultants Future Options Organisation Ltd has estimated the scheme could save taxpayers million of pounds in the long term.