‘Disappointment’ that 26% of Suffolk recyclables are spoiled

Mid Suffolk councillor John Matthissen also pondered whether there was the same culture of social responsibility in the UK as in continental Europe, where recycling rates were much higher and streets were cleaner.

READ MORE: 8 ways to take your recycling to the next level in Suffolk

Suffolk Waste Partnership (SWP), which works to improve waste management in the county, has revealed that 26% of the waste in Suffolk’s recycling bins collected during the financial year 2022/23 could not be processed as they were spoiled.

Items contributing to spoiled collections included materials that were not clean or dry due to the remnants of food and drink, rubbish or plastic bags containing recycling and non-recyclables, such as nappies and food waste.

SWP has now launched a #ShakeItOut campaign to encourage households in Suffolk to help improve recycling rates by making sure black bin bags and plastic sacks are not thrown in recycling bins.

READ MORE: Work begins on £2million Haverhill waste recycling centre

Mr Matthissen, who represents Onehouse ward, was particularly concerned about the amount of disposable nappies that were being placed in with recyclables.

Green Party councillor John Matthissen was ‘disappointed’ that 26% of recyclables were spoiled (Image: Archant)

He said a delivery with a high amount of non-recyclables could be rejected at the recycling centre and the waste would have to go to the incinerator instead.

He added: “It is disappointing and the council does carry out a range of educational measures of one sort or another, including tackling areas where we know that this is particularly bad and officers go out to events and talk and explain to people what is wanted and what is not wanted.”

READ MORE: Suffolk news

He said recycling rates were much higher in other northern European countries, such as the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.

“There are continental centres where far higher rates of recycling are achieved and you get into discussions about different social mores, a different sense of social responsibility, something of the wider culture.

“A large proportion of the population in those countries seems incredibly willing to do the right thing,” Mr Matthissen added.

Rob Cole, of SWP, said: “Our Shake It Out campaign aims to help residents better understand their recycling services and ensure items are clean, dry and loose when they are placed in their recycling bins.

“We appreciate that some households may collect their recycling in plastic bags, to make it easy to carry out. This great work can be wasted if recycling is then added to your wheelie bin in a plastic bag.

“We’re urging all Suffolk residents to make sure any plastic bags used to collect recycling are shaken out into the recycling bin.”