Dry & Aluminium recycling
Case reference FOI2026/00592
Received 9 March 2026
Published 2 April 2026
Request
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I am seeking access to the following information:
Do you currently operate a segregated or commingled kerbside collection service for dry recyclable materials?
Do you have a policy or directive that specifies that all your kerbside-collected dry recycling materials should be recycled in the UK?
a. 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?
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.
Response
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I am seeking access to the following information:
Do you currently operate a segregated or commingled kerbside collection service for dry recyclable materials?
Answer: Commingled.
Do you have a policy or directive that specifies that all your kerbside-collected dry recycling materials should be recycled in the UK?
Answer: No but our contractors provide us with data that shows all of Herefordshire councils recycling is sent to processors or further sorting facilities within the UK, which are managed legally and in line with all applicable environmental legislation.
a. Please specify if there are different policies for different materials.
Answer: No.
3. For aluminium specifically,
Who sorts and recycles your aluminium for you?
Answer: Mercia Waste Management (Severn Waste Services), sorts our aluminium at Envirosort, Woodbury Lane, Worcester, WR5 2DF. They then organise for it to be sent on for recycling to processors depending on the best market position.
If outsourced, please specify the company or organsation?
Answer: Please see above.
Is your aluminium recycled in the UK?
Answer: Yes.
How much annual income do you derive from the sale of recycled aluminium?
Answer: Herefordshire Council do not receive a direct income from the sale of aluminium. Within the contract we have with Mercia Waste Management there is a revenue sharing agreement. The purpose of the Net Excess Revenue Sharing is to provide the Councils with a share in any excess gains made by Mercia Waste Management (as the company) in respect of income generated from third parties.
Does this income subsidise, or make a substantial contribution to, the cost of your whole recycling programme?
Answer: Please see above.
What would be the impact to your overall recycling programme if you lost your entire aluminium recycling income?
Answer: None.
Would you have to increase your Council Tax to compensate for such a loss?
Answer: No.
Are you a member of any local authority waste management partnership?
Answer: Yes.
If so, which one?
Answer: Worcestershire County Council.
Does it operate its own Materials Recovery Facility?
Answer: Herefordshire Council have an integrated disposal contract with Mercia Waste Management who manage the sorting and disposal of all waste collected by the authority. This contract is a joint contract with Worcestershire County Council which includes a MRF facility.
Does it have a policy or directive to ensure that aluminium is recycled in the UK?
Answer: All of Herefordshire councils recycling is sent to processors within the UK, which are managed legally and in line with all applicable environmental legislation.
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.
Documents
This is Herefordshire 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.