Freedom of Information Request
Case reference EIR2026/00136
Received 4 February 2026
Published 23 February 2026
Request
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I am seeking access to the following information:
1. Do you currently operate a segregated or commingled kerbside collection service for dry recyclable materials?
2. Do you have a policy or directive that specifies that all your kerbside-collected dry recycling materials should be recycled in the UK?
* Please specify if there are different policies for different materials.
3. For aluminium specifically,
* Who sorts and recycles your aluminium for you?
* If outsourced, please specify the company or organsation?
* Is your aluminium recycled in the UK?
* How much annual income do you derive from the sale of recycled aluminium?
* Does this income subsidise, or make a substantial contribution to, the cost of your whole recycling programme?
* What would be the impact to your overall recycling programme if you lost your entire aluminium recycling income?
* Would you have to increase your Council Tax to compensate for such a loss?
1. Are you a member of any local authority waste management partnership?
* If so, which one?
* Does it operate its own Materials Recovery Facility?
* Does it have a policy or directive to ensure that aluminium is recycled in the UK?
I would prefer to receive this information electronically. As required by the Freedom of Information Act, I look forward to your response within 20 working days.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Response
Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Response
Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please find our response below.
1. Kerbside collection method for dry recyclables
The Council currently operates a commingled kerbside collection service for dry recyclable materials.
2. Policy on UK recycling of kerbside-collected dry recyclables
The Council does not currently have a formal policy or directive that specifies all kerbside-collected dry recycling materials must be recycled in the UK.
However, the Council prioritises UK-based reprocessing options in the first instance, subject to market availability, quality requirements, and value for money considerations.
There are no separate policies for different dry recyclable materials at present.
3. Aluminium recycling
a) Sorting and recycling of aluminium
Aluminium collected at the kerbside is sorted and processed by HW Martin (Derbyshire) as part of the Council's contracted recycling arrangements.
b) Outsourced processing
Yes - this service is outsourced to HW Martin (Derbyshire).
c) Whether aluminium is recycled in the UK
Whether aluminium is recycled within the UK is dependent on market conditions and prevailing market rates at the time of sale.
d) Annual income from aluminium recycling
The tonnage of aluminium collected fluctuates, as do market prices. As a result, income from aluminium recycling varies on a month-to-month basis, and a fixed annual figure cannot be provided.
e) Contribution to the recycling programme
Income from aluminium recycling makes a small and variable contribution towards the overall cost of the Council's recycling programme.
f) Impact of loss of aluminium recycling income
Based on the most recent three months of collection data, aluminium represents approximately 1.5% of all materials collected. The loss of income from aluminium recycling would therefore have a negative financial impact on the recycling programme.
g) Impact on Council Tax
Yes - the loss of aluminium recycling income would require the Council to consider increasing Council Tax or identifying alternative funding sources to offset the shortfall.
4. Waste management partnerships
a) Membership of a waste management partnership
Yes - the Council is a member of the Derbyshire Waste Partnership.
b) Operation of a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)
The partnership does not operate its own Materials Recovery Facility.
c) Policy to ensure aluminium is recycled in the UK
The partnership does not have a policy or directive requiring aluminium to be recycled within the UK.
Documents
This is South Derbyshire District Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.