Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 20 April 2023

NUNEATON and Bedworth Borough Council bosses have given plans for co-mingled recycling waste collections the ‘thumbs up’.

The new plans will see co-mingled recycling waste collected every two weeks to increase recycling rates, and save time, as well as serve as a cost-cutting measure.

The proposal was approved by borough councillors in a cabinet meeting two weeks ago (Wednesday, 12 April), and it is hoped that it will become a reality by August.

At present, the council recycles about 18 per cent of their waste through a fortnightly brown-lid bin service.

But, this requires around 63,000 householders to place recyclable paper in a caddy inside a larger wheelie bin for all other recyclables, such as glass and cans, which are then later separated by waste contractors.

Now, the cabinet have agreed to move to a system where householders who have doorstep collections need to co-mingle all recyclables into a wheelie bin, which will be collected every other week with residual waste.

The change was agreed after members of the cabinet had heard how neighbouring boroughs in Warwickshire have already made the move.

Analysis of black bin waste shows more recycling could be possible, and feedback from residents in a 2021 survey suggested the paper caddy was unpopular, as many believed that it was ‘not big enough’.

Coun. Sue Markham, the Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Public Services, said: “We’ve taken huge strides forward to improve recycling, but it is clear that we must make some big changes now if we want to further increase recycling rates.

“Introducing co-mingled mixed recycling will make the system much more straightforward for residents and will help us reduce costs, save time and boost recycling rates.”