FOI Request - Household Kerbside Recycling

Request 101003990484

Please provide data for the financial year 2024/25. If 2024/25 data is not yet available, please provide the most recent 12-month period for which data is held.

Question 1: Contamination rate

a) The contamination rate for household kerbside recycling collections, expressed as a percentage
b) The total tonnage of household kerbside recycling that was rejected, disposed of, or diverted from recycling due to contamination
c) (If held) The contamination threshold at which a load is rejected (e.g. if contamination exceeds X%, the load is rejected)
d) What happens to household kerbside recycling that is rejected due to contamination? E.g. Sent to landfill, incineration/energy from waste, or another disposal route (please state)

Question 2: Cost of contamination

a) The total cost to the council of processing or disposing of contaminated household kerbside recycling for the same period
i. (If an exact figure is not available, please provide an estimate and indicate how this was calculated)

Question 3: Main contaminants (if recorded)

a) (If held) Please provide details of the main types of contamination found in household kerbside recycling collections (for example: food waste, nappies, non-recyclable plastics, textiles, garden waste, glass in incorrect streams, etc.)

Question 4: Processing cost differential

a) The cost per tonne to the council for processing or disposing of household kerbside recycling
b) The cost per tonne to the council for processing or disposing of general household waste
i. (If exact figures e.g. gate fees are not available, please provide estimates or typical/average costs)

Clarifications:

1. "Household kerbside recycling" refers to dry mixed recycling, paper/card, plastics, metals and glass collected from households at the kerbside – excluding food waste collections, garden waste collections, and materials deposited at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) or bring banks

2. If waste collection and disposal services are contracted out, please include data held by or on behalf of the council through these arrangements

3. If the council is a waste collection authority only and does not hold disposal cost data, please confirm this in your response and provide any contamination or rejection data you do hold