What is Compulsory Recycling?
From 10 September 2007, residents in Waltham Forest are being asked to recycle as part of a Compulsory Recycling scheme. This means that all residents in the Get Sorted! Door-to-Door Recycling Service have to recycle paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, food and drink cans, plastic bottles, textiles, shoes, batteries and engine oil in their black recycling boxes.
Support will be given to residents to ensure they understand the scheme and to help them to recycle. If they continually fail to recycle, they could be fined up to £1,000. Fines will only be used as a last resort for persistent non-recyclers.
Why is the Council introducing Compulsory Recycling?
The government has set recycling targets for local councils. If these targets are not met, the Council will have to pay heavy fines, which will have an impact on all residents through increased council taxes.
After a very successful trial in the South Chingford and Woodford Green areas, which substantially increased recycling rates, the scheme has been rolled out across the whole borough. The Compulsory Recycling Scheme has been undertaken to help Waltham Forest meet its recycling target of 50% by 2012.
Does Compulsory Recycling apply to all residents?
No, currently Compulsory Recycling does not apply to some flats (in blocks and above shops) that have shared refuse facilities. However, we do provide a free recycling service to all properties in the borough. To request facilities, please contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000.
What items do I have to recycle?
All paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, food and drink cans, plastic bottles, textiles, shoes, batteries and engine oil must be placed in the black recycling boxes provided to every household in the Get Sorted! Door-to-Door Recycling Service. Residents must not place these materials in the wheeled rubbish bin.
Are you introducing fortnightly refuse collection as part of Compulsory Recycling?
No, not at the moment. Weekly rubbish and recycling collections will continue to operate.
Will you be changing the recycling collection days?
Collection days may change due to the increased amounts of recycling that needs to be collected. Residents will be notified of any proposed collection day change.
How can I find out when my recycling collection day is?
View the collection schedule or contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000.
How will Compulsory Recycling be enforced?
Black recycling boxes are emptied weekly so it will be easy to monitor which households are not taking part in the scheme. Recycling assistants will visit households who do not regularly recycle to explain the scheme and encourage residents to participate.
Residents who continue not to recycle will receive warnings and could be liable for a £100 fixed penalty notice. Residents refusing to pay this notice will be taken to court, where they could face a fine of up to £1,000.
What happens if I am away and don’t put any recycling out?
The Council is trying to encourage recycling, not trying to catch residents out. We will only be following up with residents who regularly do not recycle.
Is Compulsory Recycling legal?
Under Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Waltham Forest Council can legally ask residents to use particular containers for different waste streams. Therefore, the Council does not allow residents to place paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, food and drink cans, plastic bottles, textiles, shoes, batteries and engine oil in the wheeled rubbish bin. A black recycling box is provided for these materials.
Can I use other recycling facilities instead of my black recycling box?
Residents can use one of the three main recycling sites, or the mini-recycling centres across the borough.
Recycling facilities
If you do use alternative methods of recycling other than black recycling box, please contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000 so we can keep a record that you do recycle.
