Food waste collection officially coming to Reading

Councillors unanimously backed the plans at Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Policy committee last night.

The new scheme was announced at the RE3 recycling centre in south Reading on September 18 and has now been confirmed as policy.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Environment, said "people do not have the right to opt out of this" and landlords could be penalised if HMOs fail to comply.

He said landlords "take dosh" but don't look after their properties.

The new weekly food waste collection is expected to start in autumn 2020.

Every home in Reading will get a 23-litre food waste caddy, while general waste bins will reduce from 240 litres to 140 litres.

Just 32 per cent of household waste is recycled in Reading but the council wants to increase this to 50 per cent.

Lib Dem councillor Ricky Duveen said Lib Dems have been calling on the council to introduce food waste bins for at least 5 years.

RBC will launch food waste collection trials next year in "hard to reach areas" and "areas where communication will be a challenge" ahead of full rollout.

Research by recycling charity the Waste & Resources Action Programme shows this has helped to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill in other parts of the country.

Green councillor Rob White said the council's recycling rate is “dire" but he welcomes the council's "U-turn" on food waste.

Cllr Page said it is not a U-turn, with councillor Liz Terry adding the council had been committed to food waste bins for years.

She said people must reduce what they put in grey bins and compared it to the introduction of seatbelts.

Some residents have raised concern at the proposed reduction in size of general waste bins but Cllr Page said the introduction of smaller grey bins happens in every authority that introduces food waste collection.

Conservative councillor Emma Warman cautiously welcomed the food waste plans but said she hoped it provides the correct provision for HMOs and households which genuinely need extra provision such as those with nappies.

Councillors unanimously backed the plans at Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Policy committee last night.

The new scheme was announced at the RE3 recycling centre in south Reading on September 18 and has now been confirmed as policy.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Environment, said "people do not have the right to opt out of this" and landlords could be penalised if HMOs fail to comply.

He said landlords "take dosh" but don't look after their properties.

The new weekly food waste collection is expected to start in autumn 2020.

Every home in Reading will get a 23-litre food waste caddy, while general waste bins will reduce from 240 litres to 140 litres.

Just 32 per cent of household waste is recycled in Reading but the council wants to increase this to 50 per cent.

Lib Dem councillor Ricky Duveen said Lib Dems have been calling on the council to introduce food waste bins for at least 5 years.

RBC will launch food waste collection trials next year in "hard to reach areas" and "areas where communication will be a challenge" ahead of full rollout.

Research by recycling charity the Waste & Resources Action Programme shows this has helped to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill in other parts of the country.

Green councillor Rob White said the council's recycling rate is “dire" but he welcomes the council's "U-turn" on food waste.

Cllr Page said it is not a U-turn, with councillor Liz Terry adding the council had been committed to food waste bins for years.

She said people must reduce what they put in grey bins and compared it to the introduction of seatbelts.

Some residents have raised concern at the proposed reduction in size of general waste bins but Cllr Page said the introduction of smaller grey bins happens in every authority that introduces food waste collection.

Conservative councillor Emma Warman cautiously welcomed the food waste plans but said she hoped it provides the correct provision for HMOs and households which genuinely need extra provision such as those with nappies.