Solihull residents can now recycle soft plastics as part of their fortnightly mixed recycling bin collection.
Solihull Council says all soft plastics, including plastic bags, biscuits and sweet wrappers, and plastic film, can all be placed in residents’ normal mixed recycling bins.
Solihull’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Cllr Ken Hawkins, commented: “Thanks to the state-of-the-art recycling facility in Coventry we were able to introduce mixed recycling a little over a year ago, dispensing with the need to separate out glass bottles and jars.
“To now be at the stage where residents can add plastic wrappings for recycling too is fantastic. Two years ahead of the government’s target.”
The Council published guidance for residents that explained what types of soft plastics can be recycled through kerbside collections.
Blister packs, disposable gloves and masks, and plastic straws or cutlery are still not recyclable through kerbside collections even after the changes.
“Plastic bags and wrapping represent about 20% of all plastic packaging but until now people have only been able to recycle them at supermarket collection points,” Hawkins said.
“Offering residents an easy way of recycling packaging means we can all recycle easily in a hassle-free way. Just make sure your crisp bags and wrappers are empty and clean before recycling, just as you would with empty tins and bottles.”
