Residents urged to review waste habits and 'consume less' as strain on services continue

Lockdown saw waste habits change for households across the country but Thatcham residents are being asked to consider producing less rubbish.

West Berkshire Council's executive member for the environment, Steve Ardagh-Walter (Con, Thatcham Colthrop and Crookham), spoke to a full Thatcham Town Council meeting to encourage residential waste reduction in the area.

He said that there has been an “increased workload” due to the level of waste that is being generated.

He added: “Some months there was a 30 per cent increase in curbside waste and recycling.

“With driver shortages, services are at a huge level of strain.”

Mr Ardagh-Walter said that one way residents can help is to try to “consume a little less” though he knew this was a “huge ask”.

However he commented: “Even if people do not consume less, there’s still a huge strain on the waste services.”