West Berks bin collections: most don’t want collection changes

Moves to reduce black bin collections to once every three weeks moves a step closer this week.

West Berkshire Council’s waste strategy is to get the once over from scrutineers, who will rake through the detail of plans which will save the council £150k a year.

More than 5,000 people responded to a public consultation on the matter.

Most of them do not want a reduction in the frequency of refuse collections.

But there was a high level of support for increasing waste types collected for recycling, as well as support for a review of the council bins provided for recycling collections.

Residents who receive the kerbside or sack collection service were asked if they agreed or disagreed that three-weekly black bin collections could help increase the amount of waste the council collects as recycling and reduce the amount of waste households produce.

Seventy one per cent disagreed or strongly disagreed that it would.

Most respondents stated that they might be able to cope with a reduction to black bin frequencies with adequate support (52%).

Mixed feedback was received regarding the types of containers provided for waste and recycling collections. While some respondents appreciated the durability and size of the existing bins, others highlighted issues with manoeuvrability, unsuitability for smaller households, and the need for alternative designs to improve efficiency, usability and their impact on the street scene, while there was also support for keeping them as they are.

The waste management strategy seeks to replace the previous strategy, which ended in 2022.

This new strategy covers all aspects of waste management services, including household waste collection and management, litter clearance, street cleaning and the management of abandoned vehicles and fly-tipping.

The strategy aims to improve the council’s waste management performance by increasing recycling rates, reducing waste generation and minimising carbon emissions.

This involves making household waste collection more efficient and promoting public recycling initiatives.

West Berkshire’s current recycling rate (53 per cent) is above the national average but below future targets of 60 per cent.

The council believes that the best practicable environmental option was three-weekly refuse collections, now that separate weekly food waste collections have been successfully implemented across the district.

It has also increased the types of plastic collected for recycling from the kerbside, to include pots, tubs and trays .

Latest findings show that 42 per cent of black bin contents could be recycled via the kerbside service.

The change is expected to increase the district’s recycling rate by at least five per cent.

West Berkshire currently provides the highest black bin capacity in Berkshire at 120l per week, compared to the regional average of 85l per week.

This proposal will reduce black bin capacity to 80l per week. The council does not limit capacity available for recycling.

The draft waste strategy has not yet been through the council’s internal governance process and the final strategy will be considered by the council’s executive later this spring.