A guide to Recycling Credits
- What are Recycling Credits?
- Who pays the Recycling Credits?
- Who qualifies for Recycling Credits from Warrington Borough Council?
- How do I apply?
- How much will the Recycling Credit be?
- What is the legislation relating to Recycling Credits?
What are Recycling Credits?
In April 1992, the government introduced a system of payment for the recycling of household waste. The purpose of these Recycling Credits is to pass onto recyclers the savings in the collection and disposal costs, which result from the recycling of household waste.
Who pays the Recycling Credits?
As a unitary authority (one acting as both the waste collection authority and waste disposal authority), Warrington Borough Council has authority to make payment of Recycling Credits, on material collected from within its boundaries.
This following information is relevant only to the credits available from the Warrington Borough Council.
Who qualifies for Recycling Credits from Warrington Borough Council?
The council will pay Recycling Credits to approved and registered parties, the main criteria being that these parties are non-profit making organisations. This includes voluntary groups, community groups and charities. Individual members of the public taking materials to recycling and household waste centres or recycling bring sites are not eligible.
The following criteria must also be met:
- The materials must be household waste for which no collection or disposal charge is normally made. Commercial and industrial wastes from shops, offices, businesses and factories are not included in the credits scheme.
- The material must be collected from the Warrington Borough Council area, and the council will need to be satisfied that the waste collected would otherwise have ended up in the waste stream for disposal.
- The material must be recycled. It is not sufficient simply to collect goods that can be recycled. The council will require proof that these goods have been passed to an approved recycling merchant for processing. Goods collected simply for re-use, or as by-products of waste treatment or disposal, are not eligible.
- If you or your group collect material for recycling in several different council areas, you will need to register with, and keep separate records for each authority.
The government advises that recycling credits should not be paid where a contract exists or is planned between the authority and the collector, or where existing arrangements in an area are already achieving satisfactory recycling levels.
How do I apply?
In order to claim Recycling Credits from the council you must:
1. Register as a recycling collector by completing a collector/reclaimer application form 
or a merchant/recycler application form If you are a merchant/recycler and are also the collector of the material, you will need to complete both forms. There is no registration fee, but the council will need to be satisfied that you are a "bona-fide" operator who will meet all the necessary criteria. Your application is subject to approval by the council.
2. Pass the collected material to an approved merchant/recycler. A list of these is available from the council.
3. Obtain Weighbridge Tickets from the approved merchant/recycler for each delivery of material. Weighbridge Tickets should be the originals and not photocopies and from a weighbridge that conforms to the Weights and Measures Act. Weighbridge Tickets must state your name, the type and weight of material and the date of delivery. These weighbridge tickets must be submitted to the council with a completed Recycling Credit payment form .
How much will the Recycling Credit be?
The method used for calculating the value of recycling credits is set out in government regulations. In accordance with these, the current rates is £34.45 per tonne.
What is the legislation relating to Recycling Credits?
The Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 52 (And the Current Amendment to the Regulations)
Department of the Environmental Circular 4/92 - The Environmental Protection (Waste Recycling Payments) Regulations.
All movements of waste must also comply with the relevant Registration of Waste Carriers and Duty of Care legislation.
For further information contact the waste team.
