EMPTY plastic bags, crisp packets and chocolate bar wrappers could soon be collected from doorsteps in Reading so they can be recycled, as part of a £200,000 trial.
The initial scheme will see 5,000 homes take part, then expanding across Bracknell Forest and Wokingham borough councils next year.
Under the scheme, people will also be able to recycle plastic sleeves, bubble wrap, cling film and net bags. They will go into a blue single use bag which re3’s refuse collectors will send to a national processing centre.
Not all plastics can be taken: straws and cutlery, pills and tablets blister packs, disposable masks, and foam or polystyrene are excluded, while bottles and ready meal trays will continue to be placed in red wheelie bins as usual.
The Ding has been chosen for the national trial, with the government indicating it could make it mandatory for all councils from 2027. It could start from Monday, July 10, with blue bags and information leaflets sent out ahead of launch.
On Thursday, June 15, a meeting of re3’s governing councils – Reading, Bracknell Forest and Wokingham borough – will be held, where councillors are expected to formally approve the scheme.
The scheme is part of a national research trial run by FlexCollect, backed by the government. The project asked re3 to be part of the trial because of Reading’s urban nature.
It will come with £200,000 worth of funding to cover the costs of implementing the scheme. Documents say taking part in the trial could give the three councils a head start in preparing for mandatory flexible plastics reycling.
Re3 is not currently prepared to process flexible plastics itself as it says converting its recycling plants could cost “upwards of £2 million”.
The documents also say officers have secured assurances that FlexCollect won’t profit or gain a commercial advantage over competitors through running the trial research.
