Bracknell

Bracknell Forest residents have responded exceptionally well to the waste and recycling challenge facing the borough. Their efforts have meant levels of recycling have increased enormously since the introduction of Alternate Bin Collection (ABC).

New figures show 37.76 tonnes of plastic and cans have been recycled at the kerbside between the start of ABC on October 2 and October 13. This marks an increase of 109 per cent in comparison to October 3 to October 14 last year, when 17.6 tonnes were collected.

Over the same period, card and paper recycling has increased by 65 per cent from 138.78 to 229.18 tonnes and garden waste has gone up by 125 per cent from 51.08 to 114.88 tonnes.

It follows the news that the Bracknell borough’s overall recycling rate has already increased this year to 31 per cent as residents prepared for the introduction of ABC.

Last year, residents recycled 27 per cent of their waste; the Council’s overall target for this year is 34 per cent.

In a bid to increase recycling, Bracknell Forest residents have their recycling and garden waste collections one week, while the following week landfill waste is collected from the green wheelie bin.

Bracknell Council has introduced the new collections for both environmental and financial reasons. If we continue to recycle at 2005 levels, the increased costs in additional Government charges and fines could be as high as £7.7million to Bracknell Forest tax payers over the next five years and even more in future years.

Borough residents have now ordered 22,600 blue bins for plastic bottles, food tins and drinks cans; 6,900 brown bins for garden waste; and 14,500 kerbside boxes for paper and card or plastic bottles, food tins and drinks cans.

Vincent Paliczka, Director of Environment and Leisure, said: We are really grateful for the effort Bracknell Forest residents are making to increase the amount of waste they recycle.”

Cllr Paul Bettison, Leader of Bracknell Forest Borough Council, said: The change in recycling levels in Bracknell Forest shows how important it is to our residents. I would like to praise them for doing all they can to look after the environment for years to come.”

To order the new blue or brown wheelie bins or kerbside boxes, or to request a home visit to learn more about ABC, please call 01344 352000.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council