Kerbside Collection
The collection of recyclable materials and waste from households at the kerb or doorstep by local authority waste services. The primary collection method for household packaging waste in the UK.
Kerbside collection is the system by which local authorities collect waste and recyclable materials directly from households. It is the primary mechanism for capturing household packaging waste.
Kerbside collection systems vary across the UK:
- Commingled — all dry recyclables mixed in one bin, sorted at MRFs
- Source-separated — householders separate materials into different containers
- Twin-stream — partial separation (e.g., paper separate from plastics/metals)
- Frequency — collections may be weekly, fortnightly, or three-weekly
Under pEPR, waste management fees from producers fund kerbside collection costs. This should improve collection quality and coverage. What materials are collected at kerbside directly affects recyclability — if a material is not collected, it cannot be recycled regardless of its technical recyclability. The RAM assessment considers kerbside collection availability. Consistency in Household Recycling Collections aims to standardise what is collected UK-wide.
Related Terms
Household Packaging
Packaging that ends up in the household waste stream, discarded by consumers at ...
Waste Management Fees
The fees charged to producers under pEPR to cover the full net cost of collectin...
Recyclability Assessment Methodology
The standardised methodology used to assess the recyclability of packaging forma...
Recyclability
The practical ability of a packaging item to be collected, sorted, and reprocess...
Materials Recovery Facility
A plant where mixed recyclable materials from household and commercial collectio...
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