Leeds residents now able to recycle more plastic items in their green bins

From today, Leeds residents can recycle even more types of plastic in their green recycling bin.

Leeds City Council’s waste service is now able to accept most pots, tubs, trays and cartons in the green bin. Common examples include fruit juice cartons, yoghurt pots, ice-cream/butter/margarine tubs and clear plastic trays for meat, fruit and vegetables.

More information on what can now be recycled can be seen at www.leeds.gov.uk/plastic.

In the last year, around 30,000 tonnes of recyclable material was collected from Leeds households through green bins. However, there are still around 9,500 tonnes of all recyclable plastics and cartons being placed in black bins, and residents are now being asked to put these in green bins instead so they can be recycled. The level of difference this can make in terms of extra recyclable material equates to the weight of more than 750 double decker buses.

Leeds City Council executive member for environment and active lifestyles Councillor Mohammed Rafique said:

“Leeds City Council declared a climate emergency in March and is committed to recycling as much as possible. Potentially we can increase the amount of recyclable material we collect by nearly a third.

“We want to help residents recycle as much as they can through their green bin by accepting more of the common types of plastics used in households, and would encourage everyone in Leeds to work together with us to boost recycling rates.

“We would also advise Leeds residents to use the popular and handy free Leeds Bins App to remind them of their bin collection days so they don’t miss it.”

ENDS

Note to editors:

Recycling pots, tubs, trays and cartons

PTTC is mainly type 5 plastic, but not all 5 plastics are accepted. For example, brown and black microwave meal trays are unsuitable because they contain mixed materials. To find out more about the enhanced services go to www.leeds.gov.uk/plastic or to check bin collection days and dates download the free Leeds Bins App from Google Store or Apple Store or via www.leeds.gov.uk/mybinday.