Recycling and waste

"Recycle on the Go" - bins in public places

Joan Ruddock with recycling binPeople will soon find it easier to recycle when they’re out and about. "Recycle on the Go" is a new drive to put accessible recycling bins in public places, developed by Defra, Recycle Now and Encams (Keep Britain Tidy).

It’s already started, with The Royal Parks rolling out a recycling bin pilot in Hyde Park over the next three months.

A good practice guide and a code of practice will help those responsible for public places to make recycling easy and accessible. Wherever possible bins will feature the familiar Recycle Now signage so people can easily identify where and how to recycle their cans, bottles and paper.

Voluntary Code of Practice

The voluntary code of practice sets out key principles for managers of public places who want to offer facilities for recycling in public areas. It can apply to locations managed by public and private bodies; and sites that are indoors and outdoors to which the public has access.

Code of PracticeThe voluntary code of practice recommends that good public place recycling schemes follow 4 key principles:

  1. Provide recycling opportunities along with provisions for the correct disposal of waste that cannot be recycled;
  2. Adopt standard signage on all recycle bins;
  3. Maintain and upkeep bins; and
  4. Re-use, recycle and / or compost the materials collected.

Good Practice Guide

GuideThe Good Practice Guide takes readers through the detail of the key principles set out in the Voluntary Code of Practice.

The Good Practice Guide contains advice on setting up public place recycling schemes, information about setting up schemes that suit particular circumstances, and guidelines on using the Recycle Now signage on recycle bins in public places.

Brand Guidelines

Recycle Now has published guidelines on how to make good use of the signage for recycle bins, including up to date brand guidelines for Recycle on the Go. This, as well as artwork for bins and campaigning can be downloaded from the Recycle Now website at www.recyclenowpartners.org.uk

Use of the standard signage developed by Recycle Now, the national recycling campaign for England, and adapted for public place recycling, will help make it easy for people to recognise what they can recycle and where.

Research carried out in 2007, shows that two thirds of consumers recognise the Recycle Now brand, and three quarters of local authorities already use it in some way. Recycle on the Go builds on this.

How do I obtain copies of Recycle on the Go?

You can download the Voluntary Code of Practice and the Good Practice Guide from this page for free. If required, printed copies can be ordered from TSO at www.tso.co.uk

Brand Guidelines on how to make good use of the Recycle Now designs, including downloading artwork and sign-up to the Voluntary Code of Practice are available on-line for free from www.recyclenowpartners.org.uk

The www.recyclenowpartners.org.uk website also hosts information on Recycle Now, the national recycling campaign for England, as well as advice and artwork on signage for recycle bins in different settings, such as in the workplace or for local authorities’ household collections.

How do I find out more?

Page last modified: 02 June 2008
Page published: 02 June 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs