Bin collections to change over festive break
WASTE collections will change over Christmas and New Year to allow crews to enjoy a festive break.
Generally, Wokingham borough residents will experience a two-day delay on collections until January 15. And the council is warning that waste and recycling should be left out overnight because the crews will start earlier than they usually do.
The re3 recycling centres at Smallmead, Island Road, Reading, and Longshot Lane, Bracknell will remain open every day during the festive season apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. On Christmas Eve, the centres will open from 8am until 4pm.
And to help cope with the festive rush caused by wrapping paper, Christmas dinners and Christmas trees, the council is encouraging residents to consider some environmentally friendly ways to send less to landfill.
Their tips include:
Purchase paper wrapping paper rather than metallic or plastic-based as these cannot be put in black recycling boxes
Buy fruit and vegetables loose, not pre-packed
a festive shopping list and stick to it
Compost vegetable/fruit peelings
Turn vegetable leftovers from Christmas lunch into ‘ bubble and squeak’
Recycle plastic bottles, paper/ card, aerosols and food/drink tins
Break down cardboard boxes to save space and ensure they fit in the black recycling box
Old, unwanted electrical items can be recycled at re3 recycling centres
Chop up your real Christmas tree and take it to a household recycling centre.
Cllr Norman Jorgensen, executive member for environment, sports, environmental health, leisure and libraries, said: “Christmas time inevitably sees an increase in the amount of waste we produce but there are plenty of ways we can ensure we recycle as much as possible and minimise the amount of waste going to landfill during this period.
“Old or unwanted items can either be taken to a local charity shop or one of our re3 recycling centres, along with your real Christmas tree, while those who participate in the garden waste scheme can also leave out their chopped-up Christmas trees on their collection day.”
For more details and to find collection dates, visit www. wokingham.gov.uk/rubbish-andrecycling/collections/find-rubbishand-recycling-collection-days/