A wide-ranging government review of waste management and recycling has a perceived excess of wheelie bins in its sights. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman reckons some people have too many wheelie bins and there needs to be a review of whether this clutter should and can be reduced. Details of the review were presented in a report in the Daily Telegraph. Other points being considered in the government waste review include packaging, council bin collection frequencies, and how to incentivise Britons to recycling.
It has already emerged that some homes seem to have an inordinate number of wheelie bins. Many households have up to three wheelie bins – for household garbage, for recyclable materials, and for garden waste. At some homes, however, one can find up to nine wheelie bins. The government contends that something needs to be done about so many wheelie bins, which are often kept in places that are practical for rubbish collections but otherwise create a bulky eyesore that impedes the movement of pedestrians and vehicles.
Every year, British households produce 29 million tonnes of waste. More than 20 per cent of this is classed as packaging materials. Almost two million tonnes of this packaging waste comes from toys, computers, televisions and other household appliances. Supermarkets and other retails in the UK have voluntarily agreed to abide by the Courtauld Commitment, which calls for reduced packaging around every grocery products. The government wants to see if a similar arrangement can be implemented concerning household appliances and electronics.
A further reduction in household waste would have corresponding knock-on effects for waste management generally, such as reduced need for wheelie bins and rubbish collections. The government is, however, keen to get councils to increase the frequency of rubbish collections. The Local Government Secretary, Eric Pickles, has told the Audit Commission to cancel guidance that advises councils to change to fortnightly collections. Mr Pickles is also reviewing whether or not councils could be paid to revert to weekly collections.
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