From April to October 2020 more than 340 lorry loads of paper and card recycling were rejected because it was too contaminated. This adds up to more than 1,600 tonnes and has cost the council around £142,000.
We are finding household bagged waste, food waste, sanitary waste and electronic waste hiding in the paper and card collected.
We cannot sort the paper and card so all this wrong waste means that it cannot be sent for recycling. Things like soiled nappies, food, and household waste contaminate the paper and card so much that a whole lorry load of paper could be ruined by one contaminated bin.
We are working with Tameside Council to remind you what to put in the paper and card bin.
Lorry loads of paper and card are getting rejected every day and we want to make sure that everyone in Tameside knows what to put in their bin.
The reason so much paper and card is being rejected is because people are hiding general rubbish, nappies, plastic bags, packaging, food and polystyrene.
Only cardboard, card packaging, paper and shredded paper, magazines, catalogues, books, envelopes, mail, junk mail, greeting cards and wrapping paper (these need to be glitter, plastic and foil free) along with tetra packs such as food and drinks cartons.
A leaflet will be delivered to every household in Tameside. The leaflet tells you exactly what you can and can’t recycle. Please keep the guide as a reminder and make sure you only put the right things in the right bins.
Every blue paper and card recycling bin in Tameside will get a permanent information sticker to remind residents to put the right things in their blue bin.
If a tag has been placed on your bin, this tag has information of what should not go in your bin. Please remove all wrong items and your bin will be collected on your next scheduled date.
