All you need to know about the black bin changes coming in September
The bin collection in West Berkshire goes down to three weeks from September.
The move is going ahead, despite thousands replying to a council consultation on the shift saying they objected to it.
From Monday, September 22, West Berkshire Council will introduce three-weekly black bin collections as part of its ongoing efforts to encourage more recycling, reduce waste, and protect vital local services.
In a statement, it says: “This change supports our Waste Management Strategy 2025-2032 and our wider environmental goals.”
And goes on to say: “West Berkshire is currently one of the top 10 per cent highest waste-producing areas in England, ranking 25th out of over 300 local authority areas for waste generated per person (Defra, 2023/24).”
But the statement makes no mention of a petition signed by around 6,000 people to stop West Berkshire Council from changing the frequency of bin collections.
Nor does it cover the council’s own survey in which most people voted against the change in reducing black bin collections to once every three weeks instead of every fortnight.
The petition says the consultation was flawed and there was no clear direct question to residents as to whether they wanted the change.
West Berkshire Council’s waste strategy says it will save the council £150,000 a year – and encourage people to do more recycling.
“If half the West Berkshire residents apply and receive a larger bin the proposed policy could end up costing more than it saves,” says the petition.
The council says recent analysis shows that 42 per cent of black bin contents could be recycled using its kerbside recycling options, with 22 per cent of the black bin being food waste alone.
“This highlights a big opportunity to improve our recycling collected and reduce the amount of waste we throw away,” it says.
“We understand that moving black bin collections to every three weeks is a significant change.
“However, with weekly food waste and fortnightly recycling collections now in place, most households will have access to the same or even more overall capacity for managing their waste than when black bins were collected weekly.
“The difference is that this capacity is now spread across different bins.”
Here’s a summary of what residents will get:
Weekly food waste collections .
Fortnightly recycling collections for:
Plastic bottles, food pots, tubs and trays (please unscrew lids, place in bag loose).
Food and drink cans.
Glass bottles and jars (lids can be left on).
Paper and card, including large card flattened no bigger than 85cm x 45cm.
Textiles, in clear or white sack (bags not provided).
Fortnightly garden waste collections (subscription required) .
This approach, says the council, ensures more waste is recycled instead of being sent to landfill or for incineration, which is particularly important as energy from waste facilities will face new carbon charges under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme due 2028.
These costs will have a significant, negative, effect on local councils, with the estimated extra impact on West Berkshire Council an estimated £1.4m a year.
Therefore, reducing non-recyclable waste now will help to minimise future service costs and ensure that the most efficient waste service is delivered to residents across West Berkshire.
“We know changes like this take some adjustment, but we are implementing support for residents: collection calendars and information leaflets will be delivered to households between 25 August and 5 September – please do look out for these in your post,” the council says.
Households with larger families or medical needs can apply for extra black bin space and there is continued offer of replacement, and extra recycling containers free of charge.
Parents can request free real nappy starter packs and cashback to reduce nappy waste.
The collection day will not change, and communal bin stores will not be affected.
Stuart Gourley (Lib Dem, Newbury Clay Hill), executive member for environment and highways at West Berkshire Council, said: “We understand that changes to waste collection can be challenging and feel disruptive, but we want to reassure residents that this decision has been made with significant thought, care, and a long-term vision for our community.
“Together, let’s make the changes that count to continue to build a cleaner, greener West Berkshire – one step at a time.”
The bins changes in West Berkshire reflect a shift in Government policy.
The UK Government has announced several major policy changes, which will affect how waste and recycling is managed in England, and how services are funded across the UK.
If implemented, this will significantly influence how waste and recycling is managed in West Berkshire.