MP says residents of west Berkshire unhappy over new bin collection policy
People only have their general waste collected every three weeks in the west Berkshire council area
West Berkshire council has defended its bin changes again – this time after one of the district’s MPs had a pop about it by publishing her ‘Bin Bodge Dossier’.
Reading West and Mid Berkshire MP, Olivia Bailey has set out West Berkshire residents’ concerns about the change from fortnightly to three-weekly black bin collections.
She has sent it to the leadership of West Berkshire Council along with a number of questions based on the concerns people have raised about the changes.
She says more than 700 residents responded to her survey about the changes, which were introduced on September 22, with 92 percent of them worried that the change to collection frequency will lead to an increase in fly tipping.
Opposed
“Residents in West Berkshire who responded to my survey are overwhelmingly opposed to the change from fortnightly to three-weekly black bin collections, and many are worried about the impacts on their families and the wider community,” she said.
“I share their concerns, and will continue to urge the council to listen to my constituents and reconsider this decision.”
Aim
Many in the survey are also concerned that the changes will not achieve the stated aim of increasing recycling, saying that there should be special help given to those facing unavoidable waste like nappies, sanitary or incontinence products.
Her survey says residents also raised a number of specific concerns about the changes including families with young children and people with long-term medical conditions, reporting that they would face difficulties appropriately disposing of waste once the reduction in service was introduced.
There were also concerns that those without cars, often the least well-off or most elderly in communities, would be most harshly impacted by the reduction in the frequency of collections.
Other concerns were also raised about the wider impact of the changes on communities, including that there would be an increase in vermin and smell.
But the man holding the pen on the changes at West Berkshire Council, Stuart Gourley, hit back.
Consultation
“Whilst I can understand the residents’ concerns that are raised in the survey I want to reassure Ms Bailey, and the residents, that we as a council are committed to support residents make this transition successfully, and support those who need a little extra help,” he said.
“It’s important to highlight that this change was subject to significant consultation and scrutiny, with a public consultation attracting over 5,000 responses in the Autumn of 2024.”
He said 47 percent of respondents highlighted that they have space left in their black bin at the end of two weeks – and this was before the introduction of plastic pots, tubs and trays, and household batteries being collected at the kerbside.
“We continue to offer support in the shape of extra capacity or second bins to those who need them most, approving over 500 requests this year so far, more than double any other year previous,” he added.
“We also continue to offer assisted collections to residents who need support getting their bins and recycling to the kerbside. And also continue to offer unlimited recycling and food waste containers, shipping more than 36,000 already this year, considerably more than previous years.
“We continue to offer excellent kerbside recycling routes, and even at three-weekly black bin collections we offer more weekly black bin capacity (80L per week) than Labour-led Reading Borough Council do.
“We are confident that this change will help to increase recycling, and reduce waste produced across West Berkshire.
“Early signs are encouraging with an extra 20 tons per week of food waste being collected since we announced the changes, dry recycling rates on the increase, and a reduction in black bin waste compared to the last six months, and I want to thank residents for help in making these changes.
“Again, I would urge residents who are concerned to reach out to the council either via phone, website or their local councillor.”