Suggestions that new bins could be introduced at bottle banks in Reading have been swatted away amid fears they could lead to an intensification of flytipping.

In West Berkshire and other areas of the country, there are dedicated bins where people can throw away unwanted electronics or electrical items.

These bins are typically located in the same places where clothing bins and bottle banks are.

Councillor James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) recently suggested that these electric item bins -called waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) bins – could be introduced to Reading.

Cllr Moore said: “Many residents have medium-sized electronic or electrical items at their homes that they wish to dispose of that are too large for collection with kerbside recycling.

“These currently can only be taken to the Household Recycling Centre at Smallmead and for some this means this is too much effort or not possible and the items end up in household grey bin waste.

“In West Berkshire Council car parks, there are electronic and electrical collection banks.

“Is this something we could consider to make it easier for residents to recycle electronic/electrical items and stop them going to landfill, as well as improving Reading’s recycling rates?”

However, cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) raised fears that having WEEE bins could encourage fly-tipping, and pointed out that West Berkshire’s bins can only accept small WEEE items.

Reading Chronicle: Fly-tipping at a bottle bank in Coley. Credit: Nick FudgeFly-tipping at a bottle bank in Coley. Credit: Nick Fudge

Cllr Rowland said: “We have avoided this route (WEEE bins), because WEEE collection banks can be problematic in attracting additional fly- tipping and even catching fire on occasion with disposed of lithium ion batteries igniting when left in items.”

She went on to say that smaller WEEE items are taken on normal collections, and that is more effective than introducing WEEE bins.

These items, such as electric toys, hairdryers, toasters and power tools will be collected if they are left in an untied carrier bag next to the recycling red bins on collection day.

However, these items can be no bigger than 30cm x 24cm, and only one item can be collected at a time. If the item is too big, it won’t be collected, and residents will have to make alternative arrangements for disposal.

Cllr Rowland also said WEEE items make up 2.17 per cent of normal waste, whereas food waste makes up 27 per cent.

READ MORE: Reading bottle bank hit by rubbish dumpers and litter AGAIN

Once a WEEE item gets to the council’s waste contractors re3, it is assessed to see whether it can be reused. If so, they are directed to a ‘Precycle programme’ based in Portman Road.

Many of the waste electrical items are sent to a company REPIC, which salvages the items for functional parts.

Cllr Rowland said the council is considering working with REPIC to hold ‘WEEE Roadshows’ in Reading to create further awareness about what can be done

with the hope of getting the WEEE items thrown into general waste down to zero.