SKDC in Lincolnshire, England, has announced a significant change to its recycling collection process, which is set to impact more than 68,000 households in the area.

The updated collection cycle will follow a pattern: black bin, silver bin, black bin, purple-lidded bin, and so on.  

The changes, which come into effect today (8 January 2024), require residents to use a new purple-lidded bin specifically for paper and cardboard recycling. 

The bin is designated solely for dry and clean paper and cardboard. However, shredded paper is an exception and should be disposed of in the black bin due to the inability of paper mills to recycle it. 

SKDC also advised that any excess cardboard or paper that does not fit in the purple-lidded bin should not be left beside it, as it will not be collected.  

Residents with overflowing bins are encouraged to hold onto their recyclables until the next collection cycle or to transport them to the local Household Waste Recycling Centre. 

In addition, SKDC has instructed residents to place other recyclables such as glass, plastics, and metals loose in the silver bin, without the use of plastic bags.  

The council said it is working closely with residents who rely on sack collections or communal bins.  

SKDC Waste and Environment councillors and cabinet members Patsy Ellis and Rhys Baker said: “Householders need to put the right thing in the right bin. If you put an incorrect item in your silver bin for your next recycling collection, SKDC’s street scene crews will place helpful advisory tags on any that contain the wrong items, explaining which items are in the wrong bin to help people get used to the change."