What is Simpler Recycling?
Simpler Recycling is part of the UK government’s Collection and Packaging Reforms and will introduce changes to how recycling and waste is collected across England.
Why is Simpler Recycling happening?
Currently, bin collections across England vary between areas, which can create confusion and misinformation among residents. The changes are designed to make recycling the same across all households, reducing confusion and improving recycling rates.
The reforms shift costs to producers to fund improved local authority waste and recycling services and are also expected to lead to the production of fewer hard-to-recycle items.
What is happening in 2026?
The new rules mean that, where possible, from 31 March 2026 local authorities should collect the following from households and workplaces separately:
- residual (non-recyclable) waste
- food waste (mixed with garden waste if appropriate)
- paper and card, plastic, metal and glass (core recyclables)
In Surrey all properties, where feasible, already have a food waste collection service. In some areas of Surrey, some of the core mixed recyclables that are being added to the list of items to be collected as recycling are already collected as recycling. However, some new items will be added to what can go in mixed recycling bins wherever you live in Surrey.
What additional items can I now put in my recycling?
From 31 March 2026, the following items can go in your mixed recycling bin in addition to those that you can already recycle:
- cartons such as juice and plant milk cartons
- empty aerosol cans
- foil
- foil trays
- non-black plastic plant pots
- squeezy metal tubes such as tomato puree tubes
- squeezy plastic tubes such as toothpaste tubes
How should I recycle the new items?
The new items should go in mixed recycling bins in the following ways:
- cartons should be clean and empty
- empty aerosol cans should be fully empty
- foil should be clean and scrunched into a ball no smaller than the size of a tennis ball
- foil trays should be clean
- non-black plastic plant pots should be clean
- squeezy metal tubes should be empty
- squeezy plastic tubes should be empty
Will the new items be recycled?
Material collected from mixed recycling bins is separated into material types such as glass, metal, plastic and paper, at materials recycling facilities, run by external suppliers under contracts managed by SCC. If there is an onward market for the material, it is then passed on to organisations (material reprocessors) to be recycled and turned into something new. If there is no onward market for the material, it is possible that some items will be turned into energy instead.
The introduction of these new materials will pose some challenges for material reprocessors, as recycling markets establish. However, the aim of EPR is that, over time, it will become more costly for producers to put items that are hard to recycle onto the market. If products are deemed to be hard to recycle, producers will have to pay increased fees under the scheme. Funds generated by EPR will be handed back to local councils to help pay for the increase in costs of waste collection and disposal.
Speculation and misinformation
There has been some speculation and misinformation online and from media outlets about what the changes will mean for residents. Surrey residents should only trust information from Surrey County Council or their local council about the changes. Some of the key areas of misinformation are covered below.
Will the changes mean that I need new bins?
No, Surrey residents will not need new or more bins because of the changes. The only changes for residents will be the addition of the new materials listed above that can be placed in their existing mixed recycling bins.
Will waste collections be affected due to the changes?
No, residents’ current collection schedules will not be affected by these changes.
Will the changes affect the list of items that should not be put into recycling bins?
No. The changes will mean that there is an increase in the number of items that can be put into recycling bins. However, there will remain some items that are not allowed to be put into recycling bins, such as food, packaging with food in or on it, textiles, electricals and nappies.
To find out more about which items go in which bins, residents should either check with their local council or to find out what to do when throwing away virtually any item wherever you live in Surrey, residents can use the Surrey Recycles search tool.
Will the changes mean that I can be fined for putting the wrong items in the wrong bins?
No. The introduction of Simpler Recycling will not affect how local councils can act against residents for incorrectly disposing of items. Existing legislation means that local councils can issue fixed penalty notices of between £60 and £80 if someone is deliberately and consistently placing items that cannot be recycled in their recycling bins, and this can only be done once a written warning has been issued.