Kerbside glass collections set to be introduced

Kerbside glass collections are set to begin in 2026

Kerbside glass recycling collections are set to be introduced in Reading late next year.

Currently, residents must recycle glass by using one of 49 bottle bank locations.

The introduction of kerbside glass collections has been prompted by the government's Simpler Recycling initiative.

Reading Borough Council has agreed to fortnightly collections after waiting for funding arrangements to be clarified.

The Simpler Recycling initiative requires all local authorities to collect from the kerbside the same core recyclable materials, including glass, paper, card, metal cans, plastic bottles, tubs and trays and food waste, by March 2026.

However, kerbside glass recycling in Reading is set to begin next autumn, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Bottle bank locations in the town have become focal points for fly-tipping, with bad examples of rubbish dumping at Kensington Park and a bottle bank being removed in Erleigh Road due to persistent problems.

While the Environment Act of 2021 set out the Simpler Recycling agenda, councils have been waiting for secondary legislation to determine how new recycling schemes will be funded - so-called new burden funding.

Karen Rowland, lead councillor for environmental services said the authority would have to order trucks to allow glass to be collected from homes.

"I've constantly responded that we were not going to be spending taxpayers' money, that we were not going to move forward with it until we had new burdens funding and a specific outline of how we were going to take this forward so there is no risk there."

Although "co-mingling" recycling in one collection was considered, this option was not deemed viable as it would have required changes to the Smallmead recycling centre that would cost £10.25m.

Councillors agreed to introduce kerbside glass recycling at a recent meeting of its policy committee.