Wokingham

A joint initiative designed to bring state-of-the-art waste and recycling facilities to Berkshire is closer on the horizon after Wokingham District Council’s decision-making executive approved a recommendation to enter into a 25-year agreement with private company Waste Recycling Group (WRG), subject to final negotiations.

A partnership between Wokingham District Council, Bracknell Forest Borough Council and Reading Borough Council (RE3 waste partnership), the multi-million pound contract, if agreed, is set to bring brand-new waste disposal and recycling facilities to residents with a waste management park set for the current civic amenity site at Smallmead in Reading and improved facilities at Bracknell’s Longshot Lane site. Further composting facilities for green waste will also be available through the contract. When it comes to fruition, the project will see Wokingham District Council and its partner councils achieve some of the highest levels of recycling in the country.

The project aims to help the RE3 waste partnership achieve the commitments set out in their waste management strategy statement:

* Achieve a participation rate of 60% or greater in all areas offered a kerbside recycling collection by 2007
* To recycle, compost or reuse 45% of municipal waste by 2010
* Achieve at least 40% recycling/composting across central Berkshire by 2010
* Achieve a high or very high satisfaction level with civic amenity facilities from some 75% of customers surveyed by 2010

In order to achieve high recycling rates, and reduce the amount of waste going to ever-decreasing landfill, a high priority has been placed on informing and involving local Wokingham residents. Therefore the contract will also see an enhanced education schedule with a visitor centre and dedicated staff at the Smallmead site Reading.

The contract will also see the formation of a Joint Waste Committee made up of two councillors from each partner council.

The three councils will now work together to negotiate the final details of the contract, before submitting it to DEFRA for approval.

Cllr Rob Stanton, Wokingham District Council’s executive member for corporate services, said: “This decision makes a successful outcome for this project that bit closer. As chairman of the RE3 joint waste disposal board, I have seen all three councils work closely together to ensure that our residents have a long-term solution to waste management and I’m looking forward to seeing this exciting project come to fruition.”

Steve Waite, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for environment, said: “This is another step forward in our policy of a more sustainable approach to waste collection. Working with our partners in Bracknell and Wokingham we are investing in a project that is not only good value for money but is also a more environmentally and responsible solution.”

Cllr Mrs Mary Ballin, Bracknell Forest Borough Council's executive member for planning and the environment, said: "This is an ambitious partnership aimed at improving our waste management through better recycling facilities and new waste disposal arrangements in all three boroughs. I hope all parties can agree this is the best way to minimise the impact of waste on our environment."

Wokingham District Council