Recycling sacks for residents
WOKINGHAM’S recycling boxes are set to be replaced in a bid to keep the borough’s waste dry.
Over the past year, there has been a problem caused by recycling companies declining cardboard that has gone soggy.
The contaminated consignments have been rejected – a situation made worse by the heavy rain and flooding that swept through the borough last winter.
Wokingham Borough Council has been working on a solution for the kerbside collections that will help residents keep theirwaste dry and also be environmentally friendly.
The borough is one of the fewin the country not to use wheelie bins and tonight, the ruling executive will be asked to pass a motion that brings the current system of open boxes to an end.
Under the plans, residents will be given sealable hessian sacks.
The papers note: “Changing global paper markets have created an increasingly restrictive approach towards wet waste.
“This emerging issue together with the Council's commitment towards higher recycling targets (consistent with its Climate Emergency declaration) makes it necessary to replace the current open black plastic boxes with sealable hessian sacks.”
Although the cost to council tax payers will be £295,000 per year, the sacks are anticipated to increase the amount of recycled material and have reduced disposal costs. This will bring in a revenue of £698,000 per year.
As a result, the scheme would save £403,000 per year.
Council leader John
Halsall told Wokingham.Today that as a response to other countries refusing new recycling from the UK, existing recycling firms had changed their rules.
“They are now more choosy and reluctant to accept wet paper,” he explained. “Last year, the council went to presentations to decide what we could do and we also engaged consultants to determine a road map towards being zero waste, while admitting we will probably never get there – but we have to try.”
Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment at WBC said: “Wet paper and card is currently reducing our overall recycling rate by about 6%, which has an environmental and financial impact.
“We have looked at all the options available and found these sacks are the best option.
“They are waterproof, robust and are weighted down so they will not blow away.
“The sacks have a slightly larger capacity than the black bins and residents would not be limited in how many of themthey have – so there will be no need to overfill them or for them to get too heavy.”
Although they had explored lids to the existing boxes, or replacing them with hinged lid boxes, research suggested a different approach.
Cllr Halsall added: “The most successful solution seemed to be to replace the boxes with weighted hessian sacks that are more like bags — it’s a really positive solution.”
And the scheme will save money allowing the council to introducing an extra vehicle.
But Cllr Clive Jones, deputy leader of Wokingham Liberal Democrats said he felt the decision had been rushed and was frustrated that councillors had not been approached for consultation first.
He told Wokingham.Today: “This should have been a separate item on the executive agenda tonight with a full business case. But there doesn’t appear to be one.
“It appears to be a rushed decision that has had no scrutiny from the council — either the Conservatives or the opposition.
“They’re using scarce council tax money, and spending nearly £300,000 on a major project that hasn’t been trialed in Wokingham, and possibly not thought out properly.
“They should have trialled hessian bags in a couple of wards in Wokingham first.”
He added: “We would like, and we’re sure the residents would like to see evidence about why this is the best option.”
Wheelie bins are still on the cards as a long-term solution. But they cannot be used with the current fleet of vehicles available.
Cllr Batth added: “We have to work with what is possible.
“Some residents like the idea of wheelie bins and others don’t – but that is an issue for the future because they could not be practically introduced in the borough with our current contract and fleet of vehicles.
“We believe the weighted, waterproof sacks are the best way to go to solve the immediate problemwe face.”