We ask all residents in the Get Sorted! Door-to-door recycling scheme to recycle as part of a Compulsory Recycling Scheme.
What do I have to recycle?
You must recycle all paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, food and drink cans, plastic bottles, textiles, shoes, batteries and engine oil. Find out more about what you have to recycle.
These items must be placed in the black recycling boxes provided to every household. Residents must not place these materials in the refuse wheeled bin.
Why Compulsory Recycling?
The government has set ambitious targets for how much local councils have to recycle. Currently over 30% of waste is recycled in Waltham Forest - but we have to increase this to 50% by 2012. If we don’t meet the target, the Council will receive heavy fines that will impact on your council tax bills.
We know with the support of our residents, and the hard work of our contractor Verdant, we can do this. We ran a very successful compulsory recycling trial in the South Chingford and Woodford Green areas in September 2006, which significantly increased recycling rates.
Recycling is important for Waltham Forest, and is an easy way that everyone can help to make the borough greener and cleaner. We work hard with residents to make sure they understand the compulsory recycling scheme and to help them recycle.
If residents persistently fail to recycle, as a last resort they could be fined up to £1,000.
The compulsory recycling scheme will not initially apply to high-rise blocks of flats with shared refuse facilities, but the Council is currently considering options to include these properties.
Fact
Our homes in Waltham Forest currently produce nearly 100,000 tonnes of rubbish every year - around 60% of this could be recycled.
Your recycling action pack
Every household in the Get Sorted! Recycling service was sent an Action Pack to explain the new Compulsory Recycling scheme in September 2007. You can download it here:
- Recycling guide (130Kb PDF document)
- 'What has to go in the box?' reminder card (109Kb PDF document)
These documents are in Adobe Acrobat's Portable Document Format. You need the Adobe Acrobat Reader program to view and print them. If you do not already have this program, click here to download it.
If you would like more stickers to go on your recycling boxes, you can collect them from WFD shops in the borough.
Frequently asked questions about compulsory recycling
- What is compulsory recycling?
- Why is the Council introducing compulsory recycling?
- Does compulsory recycling apply to all residents?
- What items do I have to recycle?
- Are you introducing fortnightly refuse collection as part of compulsory
recycling?
- Will you be changing the recycling collection days?
- How can I find out when my recycling collection day is?
- How will compulsory recycling be enforced?
- What happens if I am away and don't put any recycling out?
- Is compulsory recycling legal?
- Can I use other recycling facilities instead of my black recycling box?
Find out more about the Get Sorted! Door to door recycling scheme.
For further information please contact:
Public Realm
Environment and Regeneration
Low Hall
Argall Avenue
London E10 7AS
tel 020 8496 3000
fax 020 8521 3577
email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk
