Recycling could be made compulsory for every home in B&NES. Nearly one in five residents do not recycle at all, and many more do less than they could.

B&NES Council’s approach so far has been to educate and raise awareness, but it is “still failing to persuade a significant amount of people to take recycling seriously”.

Now it is considering following Islington, Mid Devon and Swindon’s lead and making recycling compulsory. If it brings in the same policies, persistent offenders will be penalised.

A report to councillors says the warnings that fines could be issued, rather than actually fining anyone, has generated “real results.”

It says recycling crews keep an eye out for any households that put recyclable waste in their black bins, or put out little to no recycling.

The report to the Climate Emergency and Sustainability scrutiny panel on March 16th moots compulsory recycling as a “discussion point” for members.

It says: “We have not told residents they MUST recycle.

“We would appreciate discussion and thoughts about whether this should be something included in the action plan for the new strategy, and any other thoughts about how we can compel people who currently won’t recycle into doing so.”

Managing waste costs the council £14.5 million a year, or £181 per household.

Its draft new waste and litter strategy “focuses on changing the culture in the context of the climate emergency” and says: “Our expectation is that if you live in Bath and North East Somerset, you recycle.”

The authority is aiming to boost its recycling rate from 58 per cent to 68 per cent, which is more ambitious than the national target of 65 per cent by 2035.

The strategy says it could restrict single-use plastics or ban specific materials, and will investigate the use of underground bins.

Recycling centres could open at evenings and weekends “to fit public needs and achieve cost benefits”.

Cabinet members are due to consider the ten-year waste and litter strategy in April.

Stephen Sumner, LDRS