Bracknell

Bracknell Forest Borough Council would like to thank residents who have already ordered more than 9,000 new recycling containers, and would like to encourage more Bracknell residents to place their orders ahead of the launch of Alternate Bin Collection (ABC) on October 2.

So far, 4,079 blue bins for plastic bottles, food tins and drinks cans have been ordered, along with 1,938 brown bins for garden waste and 2,990 kerbside boxes for paper and card or plastic bottles, food tins and drinks cans.

The Bracknell Council is introducing ABC to boost recycling levels across the borough and keep council tax levels low. Recyclables will be collected one week, with landfill waste collected the following week.

A series of roadshows is also being held to help answer Bracknell residents' questions about the scheme. Staff will be on hand to give advice, new recycling containers can be ordered, home visits for help from an ABC officer can be requested and biodegradable brown sacks for garden waste will be on sale.

The roadshows can be found at:

Saturday, June 24: Warfield Primary School fete - 12pm-4pm

Saturday, July 1: Crowthorne Carnival - from 12pm

Friday, July 7: Meadowvale Primary School fete - 5.30pm-7.30pm

Saturday, July 8: Birch Hill Primary School fete - 1pm-4pm

Saturday, July 15: Memorial Park, Sandhurst - 11am-5pm

Sunday, July 16: Going Green, Lily Hill Park - 10am-4pm

Friday, July 21: Opening of Street Live festival, Bracknell town centre - 10am-2pm

Friday, August 4: The Look Out Discovery Centre - 10am-2pm

Tuesday, August 8: Edgbarrow Sport Centre - 10am-2pm

Thursday, August 10: Coral Reef - 10am-2pm

Tuesday, August 15: The Look Out Discovery Centre - 10am-2pm

Tuesday, August 22: Coral Reef - 10am-2pm

Wednesday, August 30: Edgbarrow Sport Centre - 10am-2pm.

Last year, more than 70 per cent of rubbish from homes across the borough was dumped in landfill sites - which pollute the environment and contributes to climate change.

Landfill space in Berkshire has less than two years capacity remaining and sites further away are also filling up and will cost more to use - not only in transportation but increases in taxes, charges and fines being imposed by the Government to discourage landfilling.

It means if we continue as we are today, the increased cost could be as high as £7.7million to Bracknell Forest tax payers over the next five years and even more in future years.

Bracknell Residents can choose to order a new blue wheelie bin or additional kerbside boxes, for recycling plastic bottles, food tins and drinks cans; which will be free of charge.

Keen gardeners can buy an optional brown wheelie bin for garden waste for a one-off cost of £30. Biodegradable brown sacks for garden waste are still available from local outlets for 30p. Paper and cardboard will be collected in the existing kerbside boxes.

Vincent Paliczka, Director of Bracknell Environment and Leisure, said: "It is great to see that so many residents are wanting to recycle their waste.

"When the bins arrive, use them straight away, so the bins collecting waste for landfill will already be only half full when the new service starts."

Cllr Peter North, Executive Member for Bracknell Public Protection and Services, said: "The roadshows will be a one-stop shop where you can order new containers and get personal advice on how you can make the best use of them.

"Even if you are an avid recycler, if you have any questions about ABC please come along and our recycling staff will be happy to help."

All extra containers can be ordered by calling 01344 352000, filling in the form in Town & Country and Environment Focus or online at www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/abc

Bracknell Forest Borough Council