Can I be fined for not recycling in the UK? What to consider

From general and garden bins to recycling and food bins, it can sometimes be difficult to know what goes where.

But households must be careful about what goes into their recycling bins, or risk a fine from their municipality.

Can I be fined for not recycling?

The short answer is yes, you can be fined if you don’t recycle.

When is a building permit required?

Local councils can issue a fixed fine to households if they “continue to place recyclable items in their bins and black bags”, according to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council.

“This means that the resident must pay a flat -rate fine of £ 100 or appear in court,” added the South Wales Council.

The Bert Hofhuis real estate expert by Every Investor added that this can also work in the other direction: you can be fined if you place non -recyclable items in recycling bins.

Fines vary depending on your municipality, but generally range from £60 to £200.

The British government has said that flat -rate penalty opinions should be issued by local councils as a last resort and only in extreme circumstances.

The UK government says local councils should only issue fixed penalty notices for non-recycling as a last resort. (Image: Getty Images)

The Government, on its website, said: “The Government wants to encourage a measured and balanced approach, whereby landlords are not penalized for minor breaches of the bin rules.

“The use of these sanctions should focus on those who cause real damage to the local environment.

“It is good practice to try to inform households of any issues with the presentation of their bins.

“For example, you can use an information letter or notice. You must do this before proceeding with the process of issuing penalty notices described here.”

There are several other trash-related fines that households should watch out for, according to Mr. Hofhuis.

These include overfilling your bins (up to a £150 fine) and leaving your bins out on days when there is no collection (often a fine of £80 to £100 ).

You can also be fined for improperly disposing of special items such as electronics, batteries and large appliances (fines range from £50 to over £200).

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Items going in the trash

According to Bath & North East Somerset Council, items that should go in your bin include:

Food
Paper
Glass bottles and jars
Cans, cans and aerosols
Plastic wrap
Outwit
Clothing, shoes and accessories
Small appliance
Cardboards, kraft paper and beverage cartons

The list of recyclable articles will essentially remain the same between the United Kingdom’s advice, but may vary slightly in some cases.