Corin Williams

Following a consultation, Defra concluded that fibre needed to be kept free from contamination to maximise its value on secondary markets. Defra said: “By default, paper and card should be separately collected from all other dry materials so their potential to be recycled is not reduced.” But a council will be allowed to commingle fibre with other materials if it can demonstrate it is not technically, economically or environmentally practicable to separate it.

Defra has confirmed that fibre – including paper and card – will be collected separately as part of a four-bin system under the ‘simpler recycling’ reforms. Our sister publication MRW has reported that glass, metal and plastic packaging are to be collected together under the standardised scheme. Separate food waste collections will be compulsory, with residual waste making up the fourth collection bin.