We all get recycling, now let’s get it right

Residents are being encouraged by Cheshire West and Chester Council to build upon the Borough’s excellent recycling rates by supporting communities to ‘recycle right’.

The Borough has one of the highest recycling rates in the country at over 59% of all waste being successfully recycled, but the Council wants to work together with residents to make this even better.

Many residents do their best to recycle correctly and in line with our guidance, but despite their best efforts, they may not always get it right. Last year, 1,460 tonnes of waste collected in red and blue-lidded bins could not be recycled due to items incorrectly placed in recycling containers and instead had to be used for energy from waste. Incorrect recycling impacts on the quality of material that can be recycled. It is estimated that incorrect recycling will cost the Council around £180,000 in lost income and extra waste treatment costs this year.

From August 2025 to January 2026, advisors trained by M.E.L Research Ltd, a company specialising in waste behaviour change, will be working across the Borough to support our communities to recycle better. Advisors will visit homes who have been identified as putting wrong items in their recycling containers, so they can be given more support through the Recycle Right campaign. These advisors are well-equipped to offer practical advice and guidance, and answer questions to help everyone recycle right. They will be easily recognisable and carry official identification, so residents can feel confident when speaking with them.

As part of the Recycle Right Campaign, we are also introducing a new system of bin tagging. If incorrect items - such as food waste or non-recyclable materials - are found in people’s recycling container, residents may notice a tag or sticker placed on their bin. Bin tagging is a widely used and effective method among councils to improve recycling outcomes. This is a helpful way to let people know what needs to be changed, so the Council and residents can all work together to improve recycling quality.

All advisors will be carrying identification and a letter of authority that can be shown to residents on request. If residents do have any concerns about the identity of any advisors, they can call 0300 123 7026 and provide their details for the contact centre for verification. Advisors are not allowed to enter, or ask for entry, to a resident’s home or rear garden.

Cllr Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Highways, said:

“The Council adopted a ten-year Waste Management Strategy in 2021, aiming to reduce overall waste, increase recycling and provide a cost-effective service. We know that most residents do their best to recycle as much as they can, and we thank everyone who recycles regularly for their efforts in helping us to increase our recycling. We have already achieved high rates of recycling compared to the rest of the country, but we know we can still do more. The Council is using funding provided by packaging manufacturers to pay for the recycling advisors. Producers want local authorities to recover more and better quality materials to use in their products.

“Making sure we put the right items in the right container to recycle is crucial because if the wrong item is in a container, it can lead to good recycling being lost and reduces the quality of other materials collected. It also lowers the income generated from recycling, which is crucial for us to help fund waste and recycling services. Food waste is particularly important, putting leftover food in your brown caddy can make a real difference.

“Let’s make a difference together by recycling right and helping protect our environment.”

For an in-depth list of what can be recycled, visit:

https://cwrecycling.co.uk/a-z

For more information on your weekly kerbside recycling service, visit:

Your bin collection | Cheshire West and Chester Council