Residents in Westmorland and Furness are being urged to continue recycling despite complaints that bin lorries mix separated waste, raising concerns over contamination and environmental impact. The council, which is led by the Liberal Democrats, has acknowledged that some older bin lorries have a single compartment, causing recycling materials to be collected together, though officials insist the issue is limited in scope.

Contamination Concerns and Council Response

Angela Jones, director for thriving places at Westmorland and Furness Council, addressed the issue on BBC Radio Cumbria, stating that the council is in the process of modernizing its waste collection system. She emphasized that recycling materials are still sorted after collection and urged residents to continue separating their waste to reduce contamination.

“I just want to give reassurance that all of that recycling is sorted, it goes to be separated from general waste,” Jones said. “What we do ask people to do is to please continue to separate it, because it does reduce the contamination.”

Jones admitted that only a small number of bin lorries have a single compartment, while the majority now have two sections to keep paper separated from plastic, glass, and aluminium. The council is reportedly working to replace or upgrade the remaining single-compartment vehicles.

Recycling Rates and Waste Management Challenges

According to government data, Westmorland and Furness has a recycling rate of 53%, which is above the national average of 42% for England. However, the area also has the eighth-highest rate of household waste per person, with residents discarding an average of 460.2kg of waste annually.

Jones acknowledged that some level of contamination exists, which results in a small amount of wastage. She noted that the council spends £30 million annually on bin collections and waste management. Non-recyclable waste is being diverted from landfills and used to produce fuel, according to the council.

“In terms of what you put out on your doorstep, in terms of the recycling materials, most of that is fully recycled,” Jones said. “There is some small amount of wastage because of contamination.”

The issue of mixed waste bins has been highlighted as part of a broader BBC investigation into waste management practices across England, which seeks to understand the full lifecycle of household rubbish.

Residents’ Frustration and Future Steps

Residents have expressed frustration over the inconsistency in waste collection practices, with some claiming that their efforts to recycle are undermined by the mixing of materials in collection vehicles. The council has been urged to provide more transparency and clarity about the current state of its waste management system.

Jones reiterated that the council is committed to improving its waste collection infrastructure and ensuring that residents’ recycling efforts are not in vain. She did not specify a timeline for the full replacement of single-compartment bin lorries but emphasized that progress is underway.

“We do pretty well here in Cumbria for recycling,” Jones said. “But we can always do better, and that’s why we’re working to improve our systems.”

The council has not yet released further details on its long-term waste management strategy or the expected timeline for modernizing its fleet. However, local environmental groups have called for greater investment in waste separation infrastructure to reduce contamination and improve recycling efficiency.