Concerns have been raised that people can’t get hold of bin bags for their food waste bins in Reading.

Reading’s food waste collection service began for the majority of homes in February 2021 and has since spread throughout the town.

Residents have been given an indoor caddy, an outdoor bin and one bin liner roll so they can recycle the food waste, which is collected by waste teams.

People are meant to be able to receive new liners at the council’s libraries and leisure centres.

However, concerns that residents are unable to get more bin liners were raised at a recent meeting by councillor Meri O’Connell (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst).

Cllr O’Connell said: “I’ve had some anecdotal and personal experience of trying to replenish my supply and nowhere having them.

“Going to the Meadway, then Tilehurst Library, then Caversham Library and Rivermead on the way back and no one having them.”

Andrew Edwards, the council’s assistant director of environmental and commercial services said supply issues meant that orders of bags have not arrived on time.

READ MORE: Food waste equivalent to weight of 92 elephants collected in one month

Although the stock has now been replenished, liner rolls are being given out one at a time to ration them.

Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward (Labour, Thames) commented that the bags are mis-used for dog mess on occasion.

She said: “A lot of people use them as dog poo bags, and that’s how you run out.

“You see them in the dog poo bins, so it is really difficult to make sure that there’s a level where people use them legitimately, and don’t just go ‘oh there’s a load of these, I’m going to go and dress my children in food waste liners!”

Once food waste liners run out, residents can either receive one new roll from the council, or use shopping bags, bread, cereal, crisp or salad bags, or  newspaper.

However, people should not use black bin bags for food waste.

The issue was raised at a housing neighbourhoods and leisure committee meeting on January 4, where councillors received a report on the rollout of food waste recycling to high and low rise flats.

The report focused on phase 2 of the council’s food waste recycling service to  14,000 apartments.

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The council’s waste team has worked to tailor food waste collections for the diverse range of apartment complexes in the town.

Cllr Barnett-Ward said: “I have a ward with a very high number of flatted developments and a lot of residents are really really keen to get this service, they see the good things that are happening as a result of it, they want to be part of those good things.

“But it is really important that we don’t rush into it because it has to be a bespoke service, it has to be tailored or it won’t work.

“It’s so easy for bin stores to get messy and contaminated, and for people to not do it properly.”

Later, Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) lead councillor for environmental services, explained that the food waste liners are not recycled – a tool at the council’s recycling centre extracts the food from the bags which are then used to create electricity.

Cllr Rowland also noted Wokingham Borough Council got rid of free food waste liner top ups last year.