Out of their Boxes

Other extraordinary material like an urn containing ashes were also placed in for recycling. Enfield Council has released details of the barmiest items placed in its recycling bins over the last year to emphasize the importance of residents recycling properly and encourage them to put the right items in the correct bins.
 
Residents disposing of used nappies and tissues in their recycling boxes causes a particular problem for the Council because they cannot be recycled and the borough is urging residents to put them in the bin instead. They can also pose a health risk to refuse collectors if they try to separate them from the rest of a load of recycling.
 
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Chris Bond, said: “It beggars belief what some people have placed in their recycling but it’s no laughing matter because if recycling is contaminated it has to be sent to landfill and it costs us a fortune to dispose of it.
 
“If one incorrect item is placed in the recycling container and our staff don’t spot it, the whole ten tonne load of recycling could have to be sent to landfill, and that costs the Council £1,000 each time it happens.
 
“Residents are working really hard to recycle more than ever before but I’d urge them to think long and hard about whether it’s really suitable to put a blow up doll in their recycling.”
 
Enfield current currently recycles 34% of its rubbish and is introducing wheeled bins across the borough to further increase this figure to 47 per cent.
 
The roll out of wheeled bins will help residents significantly increase their recycling rates and help save approximately £1million in reduced waste disposal costs each year as a result.
 
The strangest items placed in recycling bins in Enfield include:
 
1)    Blow up dolls
2)    Sex toys (vibrators)
3)    An urn containing the ashes of a person (or and animal) – placed back  on the property’s doorstep
4)    Used sanitary towels
5)    Fish tank
6)    A box of live maggots
7)    Plastic Christmas Tree – in the organic waste bin
8)    Oil paintings
9)    Dumb bells
10)  Dead pets