Green recycling bins cannot collected if the wrong items have been placed in them. A complete list of the items which can be placed in them and the items which should instead be placed in brown refuse bins can be found at www.sutton.gov.uk/recycling.

Waste & recycling advisers will deliver letters to residents whose recycling collections cannot be taken explaining why, and will offer help and advice about ways to easily resolve the situation.

The letters will also contain advice about which items can and cannot be recycled in the borough. This way, residents will be informed about the reasons for non-collections and what they can do to make sure their recycling is always collected.

Jill Whitehead, Chair of the Environment & Neighbourhoods Committee at Sutton Council, said:

“We know Sutton residents care about the environment and are committed to recycling. Our recycling rate is above the London average and that’s something of which we can be very proud. However, there are still ways we can improve upon this. By working with our residents and making sure they are aware of exactly what can be recycled, and giving them clear and helpful advice about why a collection may not be taken, we know that we can achieve an even greener Sutton.”

In the past contamination has resulted in whole lorryloads of recycled materials being rejected at the recycling facility. Instead of being recycled all the material ends up being sent to landfill. Recycling has lots of benefits for our communities, the main one being that it is far cheaper to dispose of good quality recyclable material than it is to send it to landfill. That money can then be spent on other council services.

Sutton’s current recycling rate is 37%, above the London average of 34%.