Households throughout England have been warned about new bin regulations as changes to recycling take effect. Failure to follow the latest guidance could result in your bin being left uncollected.

The UK's Simpler Recycling reforms, introduced under the Environment Act 2021, have imposed mandatory and uniform recycling requirements for businesses and households in England. This means there are now separate collections for food waste, paper and card, glass, metal and plastic. Local authorities must provide clear guidance about what can and cannot be recycled, with some councils exempted from the new regulations until at least 2040.

It is essential to check with your local authority to see whether these new rules are applicable.

Councils are able to decide how they collect metal, glass and plastic. The government is urging local councils to collect metal lids and caps alongside the jars.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' guidance states: "Metal lids and caps on glass containers (for example, metal jam jar lids) can be left on and recycled with glass.

"Putting the lids or caps back on glass jars and bottles and recycling them with glass reduces the chance of them getting lost through the sorting process."

Households should leave lids or caps on jars or bottles when placing them in the recycling bin. Always ensure you rinse and clean out any food or liquid before recycling.

Recycle Now has also released advice regarding the recycling of glass. It stated: "Empty and give a quick rinse. Leftover liquid can contaminate other recyclables which may mean they aren't recycled.

"Put lids and caps back on. This reduces the chance of them getting lost during the sorting process as they can be recycled separately."

Corks should be taken out of bottles before recycling, though they can be composted at home. Should you choose to dispose of your glass at a bottle bank, blue glass may be placed together with green glass.

The new bin regulations have also brought about changes regarding which bathroom items are and are not suitable for recycling. Always check with your local council to confirm whether the rule applies in your area.

The latest guidelines mean councils are not required to recycle absorbent hygiene products such as nappies, period products and incontinence products.

Cotton wool and makeup pads cannot be recycled, nor can tissues or wet wipes.

Toilet paper should exclusively be flushed down the toilet, while mirrors cannot be recycled at home and must therefore be taken to a recycling centre.