Three-weekly bin collection petition dismissed

West Berkshire Council introduced the black bin changes last month

A petition signed by thousands calling for a pause after general waste started to be collected every three weeks in a Berkshire borough has been dismissed.

West Berkshire Council changed the frequency of its black bin collections last month. Recycling and garden waste is still being collected every fortnight.

Resident Richard Garvie presented the petition, signed about 3,000 times, but the authority said it was a "conflation" of two petitions and that it had summarised it into one discussion point.

The council said stopping three-weekly collections would cost it £3m and that it had supported about 580 people who asked for extra help, including giving them extra or larger bins.

Mr Garvie said the authority was "not listening to residents" and that, while he wanted to increase recycling rates, the changes were "poorly communicated, poorly planned and poorly delivered".

Stuart Gourley, executive member for the environment and highways, said the council "remains committed to supporting residents who find it challenging".

"Data shows most households are coping well," he added. "As for larger bins… we have been clear at all times groups in need will get them. 585 houses have got either larger or second bins."

Council leader Jeff Brooks disputed Mr Garvie's allegations that the authority does not listen to residents.

"In our 2024/5 budget consultation we put 12 proposals forward. Three of them as a result of consultation we didn't do," he said.

"Seven we modified as a result of consultation and two were supportive so we went ahead. You can continue to put these things on social media but the facts don't back up the case."