Due to the Simpler Recycling legislation it will become a legal requirement for local authorities to provide separate waste collection for the core recycling materials and food waste (by April 2026) to all households.
This has facilitated a need to rethink the way in which flats and estates are targeted for recycling collections. Flats and estates have historically posed a challenge for increased recycling. It is recognised that recycling in flats and estates can be increased by focusing on enhancing knowledge, making it easy to recycle and giving people the motivation to do it¹. It is argued that making recycling a more visible activity will provide opportunities for social norming. Recycling in flats is often seen as an anonymous activity, therefore if residents do not see others recycling on a regular basis (due to bin placement/ chutes etc), the activity is less likely to become the ‘norm’.
The use of rubbish chutes can exacerbate this problem as waste is simply disposed of in corridors and is ‘unseen’ by the majority of residents; recycling is often not an option, or certainly not an easy option. However, in recent times, some councils and housing associations have moved towards chute closures. This is predominantly due to the cost of maintenance and the significant fire safety risks that they pose. Lithium batteries such as those found in vapes can cause fires in blocked chutes. A case study from three Sheffield tower blocks outlined that there were around 224 blockages in one year, this equated to 64 working days per year just dedicated to unblocking chutes. In addition, around eight fires were recorded in high rise blocks in the same area over the last 12 months.
In view of this, there is a movement towards external bin storage for recycling, food waste and general waste in flats and estates. Not only does this help these residences to comply with the simpler recycling legislation, it also reduces fire risk, and is thought to be more cost effective than chute refurbishment. However, bins cannot simply be placed outside, careful assessment of bin placement, and communication is required to ensure a smooth transition.
Outdoor bin placement can make recycling more visible as effort must be made to go to the correct bins. Enhanced visibility encourages discussion of recycling habits with fellow residents, particularly if bins are placed effectively². Infrastructural changes are critical for enhancing the motivation to recycle. For example, making bin areas more accessible, aesthetically pleasing, providing frequent collections and regular cleaning routines to reduce odour can all have a positive impact.
Residents also need the required knowledge to participate in recycling i.e. the key benefits, how they can recycle, where the bins are etc. This can be in the form of communications for the council or even strong signage on the bins themselves. A final component of encouraging recycling in flats and estates is ease. Residents who make trips to the bin purely for recycling purposes in flats are generally in the minority and are often living close to the communal bin areas. Recycling is more likely to occur when people do not need to make special trips, and when it can be fit into existing activities i.e. going to the shop. In view of this, bin placement, in addition to increasing the number of bins is critical.
In order to ensure that the three components of increased recycling in flats and estates (knowledge, ease, motivation) can occur, it is important for councils to assess the range of options around bin housing that may be available to them. Bin housing can make a significant difference when encouraging people to recycle. They can make bin areas cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing and reduce the odours associated with rubbish. There are a number of different options currently available ranging from steel to wood and they can even help with biodiversity net gain.
The examples below show some of the available bin enclosures for recycling and general waste. Steel bin enclosures are thought to last significantly longer than a traditional bin, lasting well over 25 years. These bin housing units can reduce odour and can be used for signage, promoting campaigns and recycling messaging to provide the knowledge required for recycling participation. Adequate signage can offer wider meaning to recycling activities. Wooden housing units can also be used if steel is inappropriate or if a different aesthetic look is required.
All of the options above can be tailored for each individual council/ site and have fire resistant qualities. This enhances fire safety within flats and estates by removing the waste from the building into a safer location.
A further advantage of external bin storage is that is also able to facilitate green roofs. These can enhance the aesthetics of the local area, help to reduce odour by reducing internal heat, reduce urban heat, enhance urban wildlife by providing habitat, absorb noise and reduce CO2. Studies suggest that 1m² of green roof can absorb the same quantity of CO2 that a regular car emits from a 50 mile drive³.
Source for pictures of bin housing: https://metrostor.uk/case-studies/
It is becoming more important to increase recycling rates in flats and estates and to move waste outside of the building due to the associated fire risks. The research has shown that moving bins externally and focusing on placement, communication, and education can help to encourage more people to recycle from these hard to reach groups. Bin housing units can foster alignment to the ease, motivation and knowledge components required for increased recycling in flats.
Frith Resource Management can offer advice on strategy, binfrastructure, behaviour change and communications. For more information contact info@frithrm.com, see our website www.frithrm.com or call 01746 552423.
2 - https://relondon.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Recycling-in-reality-report.pdf
3 - https://metrostor.uk/case-study/compton-close-london-borough-of-camden/