 Waste collections back to normal working hours
As the highest temperatures from heatwave have come to a close, your waste and recycling collections will return to normal and start at 6.30am from tomorrow (21 July).
We appreciate your co-operation in putting out your waste and recycling the night before, which has shortened the time of our crew working under the heat.
We also thank our crew for their diligence and hard work despite extreme weather conditions.
 Fight against zombie batteries
Not long ago, a waste collection truck caught fire in Bracknell, which was believed to be caused by the batteries residents put in their bins.
Zombie batteries are dead batteries thrown away with other waste and recycling. They are likely to be crushed or punctured when the waste is collected and processed. Some battery types, like lithium-ion (Li-ion) and nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH), can ignite or even explode when they are damaged, putting lives at risk.
If used batteries are taken to landfill, the dangerous chemicals inside may leach into the ground and pollute the soil and any nearby water.
All kinds of batteries can be recycled at the household recycling centres in Reading and Bracknell. You may also take them to many supermarkets across the borough. Some small electricals may have batteries inside. So, please do not put them in your general waste or recycling bag and take them to the tip instead.
Batteries contain plastics, metals, minerals and precious or rare elements, like gold and silver, which can be used to make new things.
Learn more about battery recycling at the Take Charge website.
 Potential fly-tippers caught in the act
Two potential fly-tippers have been stopped from dumping a large amount of clothing on Sindlesham Road in Arborfield.
They were caught in the act by our new anti-social behaviour team, when they appeared to be sorting through piles of clothing onto the path of Sindlesham Road.
The anti-social behaviour officer turned on a camera and read the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) caution to the men. Once questioned by the officer, the men claimed they were sorting through the clothing and were going to take the unwanted clothes to a local waste collection service for disposal.
The officer expressed disbelief in their story, and made a note of their company name, waste carrier’s licence number and van details, whilst advising the two men that the council has a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping.
Our new in-house anti-social behaviour service team patrols trouble hot spots in the borough seven days a week, including evenings and weekends. The team tackles anti-social behaviours and other issues that affect residents’ quality of life including fly-tipping.
 Plastic Free July – Plastic Free Morning Tea
In this month for Plastic Free July, you are encouraged to take the challenge of reducing the use of single-use plastic at home and in the workplace.
It also gives you a good opportunity to get together with family, friends or colleagues and share conversations about plastic free ideas. Plastic Free Morning Tea is a delicious way to start getting others involved to make a real difference together.
Here are some ideas for hosting a successful Plastic Free Morning Tea:
- Encourage people to bring games about plastic waste reduction
- Hold a friendly competition (for example, challenging people to bring a piece of plastic they couldn’t avoid)
- Share tips and ideas on how people can cater, make or buy food and drink that is not wrapped in plastic (for example, loose leaf tea, home-baked goods)
- Provide helpful reusables (for example, beeswax wrap, insulated water bottle or metal straw as a competition prize or door prize)
- Send a quick ‘thank you’ to the attendees and share photos or videos
If you are working from home, consider hosting a ‘virtual’ morning tea and invite colleagues and friends to come together and enjoy a cuppa at the same time. You may even ask them to bake from the same recipe to build the connection.
Find out more about Plastic Free Morning Tea at the Plastic Free July website
 Get rewarded for recycling
Greenredeem, one of our partners in reducing waste and tackling climate emergency, is a free digital platform that rewards you for recycling and completing eco-friendly activities online.
You will earn points on the platform for recycling every week. Your points can be used to enter prize draws to win up to £300 worth of supermarket vouchers, or donated to a host of charities, including Wokingham Volunteers Centre, Marine Conservation Society, Bumblebees Conservation Trust and Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital.
The platform also provides tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life. Its carbon footprint tracker shows how much carbon emissions you can save through completing different pledges to waste less and recycle more.
Sign up today and find out how we can do more to protect the environment.
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