Wokingham

Even more people across the Wokingham district are set to recycle and compost their green garden waste as the district council’s scheme spreads its roots.

And to celebrate the success of the scheme, executive member for environment Cllr Simon Weeks joined staff and pupils at St Dominic Savio School, Western Avenue, Woodley one of the areas set to benefit from the extension to the scheme.

The pilot green waste scheme was introduced in April 2005 and rolled out to an original 10,000 Wokingham properties, later extended to cover some 20,000 homes. In its first year, the scheme saw just over 1,000 tonnes of green waste collected. And now even more homes will be able to take part, bringing the total to some 50,000 by April next year.

Cllr Weeks said: “We have been pleased with the take-up of the green waste scheme are now looking forward to even more people being able to take part. Green waste bags are currently being delivered to parts of Earley, Finchampstead, Shinfield, Sonning, Twyford, Wokingham, Wokingham Without and Woodley. And in April next year the scheme will expand to take in parts of Hurst, Winnersh and more of Woodley.”

The scheme allows people to put their green garden waste out for collection in large reusable green sacks (provided by the council). The waste is collected every fortnight, on the same day as normal household rubbish and on the alternate week to the black box recycling collection.

Wokingham Cllr Simon Weeks added: “The scheme allows households to divert even more of their waste away from ever diminishing landfill space. The district’s residents have always helped us to meet increasingly challenging government-set recycling targets and I’m pleased that the extension to this scheme is allowing even more people to compost.”

The green waste sacks are currently being delivered to households in the extended areas, along with a leaflet explaining the scheme, and collection will start on December 4.

Any households in areas not taking part in the Wokingham scheme will still be able to have one black sack of garden waste per property collected free of charge each week. They can also purchase blue garden waste sacks from the council at a cost of £1 each. Garden waste can also be taken to the civic amenity sites in Bracknell and Reading for composting.

The council also encourages people to home compost – more details are available by calling 0845 130 6090.

The council’s waste team is happy to answer any queries on the green waste scheme and can be contacted on (0118) 974 6307.

Wokingham District Council