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The proposals aim to stimulate good practice in the provision of public-use recycle bins.  The consultation paper includes a voluntary code of practice and an associated good practice guide, taking forward the commitment in the Waste Strategy for England 2007 to stimulate a new wave of public place recycling from 2008 and to provide guidance to managers of public places to help this happen.

The guidance aims to allow organisations to enjoy the benefits of recycling in a way that is joined-up, consistent, and that the public is likely to recognise and therefore take part in.  One of the main recommendations is the adoption on recycle bins of the colours and symbols developed as part of Recycle Now, the national recycling campaign for England.
 
Organisations can provide recycle bins for the public to use in a wide range of locations, both indoors and outdoors, such as, but not limited to, airports, beaches, car parks, cinemas, entertainment sites, focal points, parks, public and privately managed sites, road sides, shopping centres, stadia and other visitor attractions.  Government recognises that many organisations would like to offer them, but don't have access to the right advice to get started, and to contribute rather than compete with what others are doing.  The measures are voluntary and are aimed to facilitate good practice.

People are invited to comment on proposals for a voluntary code of practice and a good practice guide.  The guide builds on the principles of the code, which in summary are:

1. To promote recycling alongside the correct disposal of non-recyclable waste
2. To adopt common national standards on the recycle bins (the Recycle Now branding, colour schemes and symbols) to reinforce public recognition and help to familiarise good recycling behaviour
3. To maintain the bins and signage
4. To re-use, recycle or compost the materials collected

The consultation runs for 12 weeks and ends on Friday, 2 November 2007.  At the end of the consultation period responses will be published on the Defra website and made available in the Department's library.