Exeter households to benefit from new national recycling reforms

Households in Exeter are set to benefit from a government overhaul of recycling rules, which aims to end what ministers describe as a postcode lottery in collections across England.

The Simpler Recycling reforms, backed by Exeter MP Steve Race, will standardise what can be recycled across all homes, businesses and institutions, including paper, card, plastic, metal, glass and food waste.

Under the changes, councils will be limited to a maximum of four containers per household, replacing previous proposals that could have seen some areas issued with up to seven bins.

The announcement comes a week after Exeter City Council completed its rollout of kerbside food waste collections to every home in the city. Food waste will now be sent to anaerobic digestion, generating electricity and producing soil improver and fertiliser.

Steve Race, MP for Exeter, said the changes responded directly to concerns raised by local residents.

"Residents have told me they want clearer recycling rules and to be able to recycle as much as possible from home," he said. "These reforms will help households in Exeter know exactly what goes where, cutting pollution and boosting our recycling rates."

Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said the reforms would simplify collections nationally.

"We are ending the bin collections postcode lottery and making it easier for people to recycle wherever they live," she said.

Cllr Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for City Management at Exeter City Council, said completing the food waste rollout had been a significant undertaking.

"Setting up food waste collections for every home in Exeter has been a real challenge that we are proud to have achieved," she said. "I pay tribute to all the staff at the City Council for making this happen, and to the people of Exeter for helping to make the roll-out a success."