With rain forecast for millions of people, homeowners are being reminded of a key recycling rule to keep in mind as the weather changes. The reminder comes as the Met Office predicts rain and thunder for some areas after a period of warm and dry weather, with several counties in England and Wales potentially facing heavy showers and thunderstorms.
Weather warnings and affected areas
As of 8.30am on August 26, two yellow weather warnings are in place, spanning 59 areas across England and Wales between today, Wednesday, August 26, and tomorrow, August 27. The warnings cover a range of locations, and residents are advised to check their local forecast.
Because rain can develop overnight, people are being reminded to keep waste recycling covered. Once paper and cardboard get soaked, they cannot be recycled, and this could lead to an entire bin being missed on collection day.
Contamination rules and council guidance
Although it is not a blanket rule across the UK, most local authorities warn residents that wet waste will be classed as contaminated. Collection workers will usually attach a sticker to the bin explaining what went wrong.
Some councils, like Wiltshire, state that wet products are banned from collections. The south-west council says: "We cannot recycle wet paper or cardboard. We use screens to sort the card and paper from other materials, and wet fibre tends to fall apart during this process. Wet cardboard and paper also stick to other items and are more difficult to separate, and can cause blockages."
Other areas that tell locals not to let their paper or cardboard get damp include Harrow, as well as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council. For specific rules where you live, residents are advised to look up their local authority recycling rules online.
How to keep recycling dry
The simplest way to keep loose recycling rubbish from getting wet in the rain is to ensure the bin lid is closed and can stay closed. If a bin often opens in bad weather, consider placing a heavy brick, stone, or patio slab on top of the lid on rainy or windy days.
How you pack your bin also helps. Keep paper and flattened boxes inside a garage, shed, porch, or hallway, and only put them out in the bin an hour or two before the collection truck arrives. If rain is forecast all evening or night, store the bin under cover until collection morning.
Many councils supply free clip-on plastic lids or weather-proof elasticated mesh nets for open-topped recycling boxes. Residents can find out if their local authority offers this online.
