Your work isn't wasted

Your efforts are really making a difference. You’re now leaving less nonrecyclable waste out for kerbside collection than before, plus more to be recycled. We talk to Peter Baveystock, Waste and Recycling Manager.

“Thank you. What you’re doing works. We’ve seen a 20% reduction in non-recyclable waste going to landfill, and a 30% increase in recyclable items. When we changed your weekly household waste collection by introducing blue bags to help you reduce the amount of rubbish you could throw away and make recycling collections weekly - that was the aim. Less to landfill and more waste being recycled. And these figures are even more positive because we’re also now collecting from an additional 4,000 homes.

“During that time we’ve also introduced more plastics to the recycling list, such as pots, tubs, foil trays, and food or drink cartons. And you’re about to receive your containers for the new food waste recycling scheme starting in April. If you’ve not received your annual 80 blue bags by now, by the way, contact us. We sent them out earlier this year so they didn’t clash with the food containers.

The new food containers are initially only being delivered to houses, not flats.

“Because flats come in different shapes and sizes with different access and waste and recycling services, we’re looking at each location separately to work out the best way to do it. Don’t worry, we will get to you. But if you want to contact us to see if we can help you earlier, please do.”

Pete has some tips for your black box recycling, to help you and the recycling process.

“Please do check that you’re only putting things in it that can be recycled. If in doubt, check. Try to keep paper dry as possible. If you have to put your box out the night before, put your blue bag on top which also stops the wind getting at the contents. You can shred paper if you want and put it inside an empty cereal box. Push the contents down in the box as hard as you can.

“If you’ve got wild animals getting into your blue bags, you can put them inside one of those round traditional style dustbins with a lid. Not a wheelie bin, because they’re taller so more likely to damage someone’s back leaning over to lift the heavy bag out.”

More information: www.wokingham.gov.uk (search ‘rubbish and recycling’) www.re3.org.uk