West Northamptonshire Council has released a new video to help residents in Northampton, Northamptonshire, understand how to sort their waste correctly to avoid bin collection problems.
The short guide, published between February 19 and February 21, 2026, explains how putting items like food waste or batteries in recycling bins can lead to entire truckloads of waste being rejected. According to West Northamptonshire Council, these mistakes increase costs for local taxpayers and reduce the amount of material that actually gets recycled.
One major concern highlighted is the danger of putting batteries in household bins, which can cause fires inside bin lorries or at waste facilities. Residents are encouraged to recycle batteries separately to keep collection crews safe while working for the council and its contractor Veolia.
This campaign comes before a national deadline on March 31, 2026, when all councils in England must follow new rules from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. These rules are meant to make recycling the same across the country and include a requirement for every home to have a weekly food waste collection.
Councillor Phil Larratt noted that while people want to recycle, clear instructions are needed to make sure items end up in the right place. To help with this, the West Northamptonshire Council app offers a full list of what can be recycled and provides real-time updates for local households.
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