Six BBQ items are now banned from household bins in England under the Labour government's new Simpler Recycling scheme, with households warned not to dispose of these favourites incorrectly. As the UK enjoys a hot summer with three heatwaves so far, residents must follow specific disposal rules.
Banned Items and Risks
The banned items include tin foil, charcoal, ash, disposable grills, gas canisters, and plastic food containers. James Ward, waste expert at Wheeldon Brothers, warned: 'Charcoal can retain heat for much longer than people expect.' He added: 'Disposable barbecues should never be placed in a wheelie bin while they're still hot or warm.' Gas canisters also pose dangers: 'Gas canisters should never be placed in general household waste or recycling bins,' Ward advised.
Recycling Contamination Concerns
Regarding tin foil trays, Ward explained: 'If trays are heavily contaminated with grease, food residue or burnt material, they may not be suitable for recycling collections.' Plastic food containers are tricky too: 'Not all plastics are recyclable, even if they look similar,' he said.
Simpler Recycling Scheme Details
Under the new policy, councils in England must provide separate collections for food and garden waste; paper and card; all other dry recyclables (glass, metal, plastic, cartons); and non-recyclable waste. The Labour government stated: 'The government wants recycling to be as simple as possible for citizens, to give local authorities as much flexibility as possible, and to avoid a proliferation of different bins causing bin blight.'
Consultation and Goals
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) consulted all English waste collection and disposal authorities and the Environment Agency. The Simpler Recycling policy aims to 'remove the confusion' created by councils having different waste collection policies, which vary from just two bins to seven. Adam Herriott, a senior sector specialist for sustainability charity Wrap, said the idea was to enable everyone to recycle the same material, 'no matter where in England you are'.
