Fareham Borough Council has received funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to begin its preparations to introduce ‘Simpler Recycling’ to Fareham.
Simpler Recycling is national legislation which aims to simplify refuse and recycling systems so that the same items can be recycled across the whole UK and increase recycling rates. Introducing Simpler Recycling means that food waste will be collected separately in Fareham on a weekly basis, glass will be collected from residents’ kerbside and a greater range of recyclables will be collected in recycling bins – including plastic pots, tubs, trays, cartons, paper and card, and metal cans.
These services must be in place by 31 March 2026 and the Council has been allocated £969,223 capital funding for the purchase of new food waste collection vehicles and food waste bins*. However, timeframes may be impacted following the announcement of the general election.
Executive Member for Streetscene at Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Ian Bastable, commented: “I welcome this funding of almost a million pounds from DEFRA, as it will allow us to put our preparations in place to begin food waste collections, without the costs falling onto Fareham residents. We will now begin our preparations to ensure the new service can be introduced as efficiently and effectively as possible.”
Further details can be found in the Simpler Recycling Government response.
*This figure has been calculated by DEFRA in collaboration with the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP).