East Northamptonshire bins, from left to right: recycling, yard waste, rubbish, large compost for curbside collection, small compost for kitchen counter
Our family moved from rural Calvert County, Maryland to East Northamptonshire, England in summer 2016 for the next three years. We quickly discovered the differences in recycling programs.
| Calvert County, Maryland | East Northamptonshire, England | |
|---|---|---|
| Recycling Stream | If using county facilities: multiple stream — consumers separate all recycling types. If using private company: dual or single stream — consumers may or may not mix recycling with the trash, depending on the company. |
Dual stream — consumers mix recyclables in one bin and place trash in a different bin. |
| Collection Method | If using county facilities: consumer drives recyclables and trash to facility. If using private company: curbside pickup. |
County provides curbside pickup every other week. Food waste is the exception as this is collected every week. |
| Other Materials Collected | Recycling centers accept many recyclables, such as batteries, engine fluids, and yard waste. Calvert County does not accept food waste. | County provides curbside pickup for yard waste and food waste. Recycling centers accept many other recyclables, such as batteries and engine fluids. |
| Bins | County provides yellow recycling bins. The bins are tubs that fit easily into a car trunk. | County provides recycling, yard waste, trash, and compost bins. The recycling and yard waste bins are bigger than the trash bins. County provides two compost bins: a small one for the kitchen counter and a larger one for outside. |
In our new East Northamptonshire home, trash and recycling pickup occurring only every other week was a challenge at first. We made several trips to recycling centers to drop off cardboard, packing material, and other items. Also, the smaller trash bin was a challenge with a child who still wore diapers while sleeping.
Our immediate family understands the new recycling program, but we must help our guests put items in the correct bin. Americans are not used to small trash bins and we must explain that collectors will not take extra bags set on the curb.
Our family kept a compost pile in our Maryland backyard, so we welcomed East Northamptonshire's curbside food waste collection. We took a few weeks to learn which food items could be placed in the compost bin.
The successes and lessons learned of this story are outlined below.