BCP Council warns recycling mistakes are costing up to £100,000 a year
Residents in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being urged to empty, rinse and dry recyclable materials before putting them in the bin
BCP Council is losing up to £100,000 a year because recyclable waste is being placed in the wrong bins, prompting a new campaign aimed at getting residents to “recycle right”.
The council says almost 79% of residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole regularly recycle. But an analysis of household recycling bins has found that almost a fifth of material placed in them cannot ultimately be recycled.
Much of the problem is caused by items being put into the wrong container, while recyclable materials can also be rejected if they have not been emptied, rinsed or kept dry.
BCP says the contamination not only reduces the amount of material that can be turned into new products but also costs the authority up to £100,000 each year.
The council has now launched its ‘Let’s Recycle Right’ campaign, with the aim of making recycling guidance clearer for households and reducing the amount of waste sent for disposal.
The campaign is intended to tackle confusion over what can go into recycling bins, particularly in homes and flats, while improving the quality of material collected.
Its central message is a simple four-step routine: empty, rinse, dry and check.
Residents will see the campaign through leaflets, bin stickers, bin tags, posters, signs, website updates and social media.
Cllr Andy Hadley said: “Most residents want to get their recycling right, and this campaign aims to make it clearer and simpler for them.”
He urged residents to develop simple habits, including emptying, rinsing and drying containers before putting them out for collection.
“A few small habits at home – emptying, rinsing, and drying items before they go in the bin – can make a big difference,” Cllr Hadley added.
He said improving recycling could help the council keep costs down while diverting more waste away from general rubbish collections.
The campaign comes alongside the council’s expanded food waste service, which Andy Hadley said had now “settled down”.
He said the service was diverting 13% of residual waste to what he described as “better use”.
For BCP, the campaign is intended to improve recycling rates while reducing the financial impact of contaminated loads – turning small changes in household habits into potential savings for council services.