Background
The Environment Act 2021 was approved by the Government in November 2021 – the Act will set out a consistent set of recyclable materials and mandates that as many of these need to be collected as separately as possible.
A new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is being developed to meet the requirements of the new law. It will mean that across Hampshire we will be able to collect additional recyclable materials, and to do this, a ‘twin stream’ recycling system will need to be implemented. Twin stream refers to two separate recycling streams. It is expected the MRF will be operational in 2025, and the switch to twin stream will happen then. However, there is some current uncertainty around this timeline due to recently announced government delays in implementing the Environment Act. We will keep you updated as this progresses.
What does this mean for us and tenants?
For Portsmouth, this means that residents will be able to recycle more items at home. However, additional bins for the extra waste streams will need to be provided. The collection system will look as follows, with a separate bin for each waste stream:
- Food waste
- Dry mixed recycling (DMR) to include plastic pots, tubs & tray, cartons, glass & foil trays in addition to materials currently accepted – aerosols, plastic bottles, tins and cans
- Fibre (cardboard & paper)
- Refuse (anything that cannot be placed in the separate recycling streams above excluding DIY/builders waste, bulky waste, garden waste and textiles)
We understand that for a landlord/managing agent, accommodating additional bins for the separate waste streams might not be a simple task which is why we are already trialling changes in some of our Portsmouth City Council (PCC) housing blocks to see what is needed. As part of this work, we have calculated new bin capacities needed to account for these separate waste streams and will be able to advise landlords/managing agents on the requirements. We want to raise the future changes now, so any alterations needed at your blocks, and additional bins required can be factored into your financial planning.
Properties on communal collections should have enough waste capacity (refuse, recycling, and food waste) for the residents residing in the block or property. Any excess or side waste not contained in refuse bins will not be collected by the refuse collection crews and it is your responsibility to manage and dispose of this waste. Landlord/managing agents need to work with residents to ensure they are using bins correctly, recycling the correct materials and not blocking access to bins on collection day.
Where can I get more information?
Portsmouth City Council can offer advice and support as part of our statutory duty. This includes the number and type of bins required, instructions on how and where waste should be presented, and requirements of bin storage facilities. If you require further support, beyond that of our statutory duty, on necessary adaptations you may need to meet the requirements of the Environment Act 2021, we can offer this as a service for a fee. Please contact the team on 023 9284 1105 or email recyclingandrubbish@portsmouthcc.gov.uk for more information.