 Keeping up with other councils on recycling
We’re starting fortnightly rubbish and recycling collections for most households next summer, with wheeled rubbish bins, to boost recycling and make vital savings.
Our recycling rate is well above the national average of 44 per cent, but it’s got to increase even more. The Government could fine councils that aren’t on track for 65 per cent by 2035, so we need to keep up and these changes will help.
Over 85 per cent of English councils now collect rubbish and recycling on alternating weeks and their recycling rates soared after changing. Based on how they fared, ours could rise from 54 per cent to 64 per cent – putting us in the top 10 nationwide.
This will help us meet our climate commitments and save more than £1 million a year as we work to secure our finances at a time of unprecedented pressure.
Green future achievable with recycling sacks
We know some of you would prefer a wheeled recycling bin as well as a wheeled rubbish bin, and we will consider this under a new waste contract in 2026.
When we agreed these changes, the Government had announced that councils would have to collect different types of recycling from multiple containers in future, meaning that going with a wheeled bin for recycling wasn’t an option.
There have been further announcements since then but, for now, our reusable green sacks are fine. Other councils prove this, having increased their recycling rates after adopting fortnightly rubbish bins and recycling bags.
Most households won’t need more than four bags (240 litres) per fortnight, which is the same amount as wheeled recycling bins in many areas including Reading.
You can order recycling bags free of charge and also order a food bin - and we do recommend using one to reduce your rubbish.
 Tried and tested in other areas
According to research by the waste reduction charity WRAP, dozens of councils have seen results with fortnightly recycling collections from one or more bags and fortnightly rubbish bin collections.
Cotswold District Council in Gloucestershire has beaten our recycling rates since at least 2015 and has collected fortnightly recycling from reusable sacks and boxes, and rubbish from a wheeled bin, for over a decade.
Its recycling rate is 59 per cent and residents recycled 8,686 tonnes of dry waste in 2021/22, up from 7,855 tonnes in 2015/16.
Maldon District Council in Essex adopted a similar system in 2016 and increased its recycling rate from 47 per cent to 58 per cent in just one year. It jumped from 117th to 21st in the national rankings and still outpaces us now.
Its total recycling has since increased from 10,546 tonnes to 14,742 tonnes (2021/22) while rubbish has dropped from 12,163 tonnes to 9,926 tonnes.
Colchester City Council, near Maldon, followed suit in 2017 and its recycling rate immediately increased from 46 per cent to 55 per cent.
Its total recycled waste has risen from 27,704 tonnes to 33,812 tonnes (2021/22) while rubbish has dropped from 32,379 tonnes to 28,635 tonnes.
Making it work for you
Residents in West Berkshire also use a reusable sack with two boxes for recycling, collected every two weeks, with rubbish collected fortnightly from a wheeled bin.
Some have built outdoor stores for their containers, while others stack them somewhere suitable. This has been the case for more than a decade.
West Berkshire's recycling rate has been above the national average since at least 2015, placing it among the top 50 per cent of councils nationally.
This shows that when recycling is collected fortnightly, whatever the container, residents find a way to store it on their properties.
It can increase recycling rates if people are willing to do the right thing and share their council's goal of protecting the environment. We urge you to help us make a big difference to our environment.
 Reduce, reuse, recycle more this shopping season
Every November, we may be prompted to buy a bit more than usual because of the Black Friday deals and early Christmas shopping.
We hope all of us will continue to 'reduce, reuse and recycle' as much as we can during this shopping season. Here are some gentle reminders to help you do so.
Reduce: ask yourself if you need it
The top priority in the Waste Hierarchy Guidance published by Defra is to prevent waste in the first place.
Sales shopping can be impulsive. Before placing an order, think twice if it's what you need now, and if you can, wait until you truly need it.
It can help to create a shopping list and set your budget before going to the store (physical or online) and stick to your shopping list when you shop.
To save money and help the environment, also consider buying second-hand from charity shops like Oxfam or online marketplaces.
Reuse: repair or pass it on
There are two repair cafés in Spencers Wood every month, where you can have your broken items fixed for free. Stay tuned to the updates about the repair cafes in this newsletter or on our social media.
Donating or selling your items is a win-win for everyone. Taking your unwanted digital devices like computers, mobile phones or tablets to your local charities can help those who don't have access to the internet to get connected.
As we are wanting to save more these days, now is a good time to turn your old electrical or electronic items into cash. Read this article for advice from Paul Lewis, presenter of BBC Radio 4's Moneybox, on selling your old electricals.
You can use this online Recycling Locator to find the best place to donate or recycle your electrical items.
 Recycle: don't bin the packaging
Online shopping deliveries often come in cardboard boxes, which can mostly be recycled. Here are some best practices when recycling them:
-
Remove any plastic or polystyrene inserts: if there is any bubble wrap, recycle it at major supermarkets with other plastic bags you have. Please note polystyrene can't be recycled at the kerbside.
-
Flatten and cut the boxes up: this will create room in your recycling bags. You don't need to remove the sticky tapes or packaging labels on the boxes.
-
Get more green bags: if you often frequently run out of room in your green bags, pick up more from our office at Shute End (RG40 1BN), our libraries in Woodley, Lower Earley and Carnival Hub or Earley Town Council (RG6 5UL). They're free of charge. You can also order them on our website.
Remember - paper or cardboard that contains dirt, paint and glitter can't be recycled. If it has visible pieces of food on it, remove it or cut that part out, so there isn't any solid food before recycling.
 Next repair café sessions
The next repair café will be held this Sunday (19 November), from 10am to 1pm, at Lambs Lane Primary School in Spencers Wood (RG7 1PW). Volunteers will stand by to help mend your broken household items or gardening tools so they won't end up in landfill or being incinerated.
On Friday 1 December, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, they will be running a special session at School Green Centre in Shinfield (RG2 9EH) to check and fix your Christmas lights.
All repairs are free, but donations are welcomed to cover their running costs.
Visit their website to find out more, or email Billie if you have any questions.
|
