A married couple have expressed frustrations over missed garden waste bin collections in Reading.
People who want to get rid of garden waste must subscribe to a collection service provided by Reading Borough Council.
A couple in the town have complained that they have experienced a number of collections have been missed ahead of a new collection schedule being introduced in June.
Helen Dixon lives with her husband in Caversham. Having signed up for the service in April, she claims that she has had four missed fortnightly collections.
Mrs Dixon said: “We paid our 12-month subscription on April 27 and have a first bin collection date that has just been put back from June 9 to June 19 – yes that’s four missing bin collections – and an end date of April 23, 2026 – a 10-month subscription!”
Fortunately, Mr Dixon was able to get the garden waste bin emptied ‘unofficially’ by waiting on the street with the bin on Tuesday, May 27.
Households must pay for bins and reusable garden waste bags in charges introduced on March 12.
The charges cost £75 per year for green bins and £30 a year for green bags.
These fees are reduced to £56.25 for bins and £22.50 for bags for households that receive council tax support.
Also, if you don’t already have a green bin or bag, there is a charge of £52.30 for the supply of a green bin and £15.50 for a bag.
When confronted, a council spokesperson clarified that the Dixon’s will receive the 25 collections they are entitled to and the exact end date of their subscription.
The spokesperson said: “All garden waste customers receive 25 collections in their annual subscription from the first collection date rather than the date paid, consisting of a collection every two weeks except for the two-week period of no collections over the Christmas period.
“The customer in question will receive their full 25 collections as scheduled, beginning on June 19 and ending on June 4, 2026.
“The time period between the resident subscribing and beginning their service is partly due to the normal process of setting up the subscription and delivering the garden waste bin, and partly due to collection rescheduling to the following week as part of our publicised bin day changes.
“In either case, it does not impact the resident receiving the full 25 collections.
“All of our valued existing green waste customers that experience a day change as a result of rescheduling will have their account extended to ensure 25 collections are provided.”
Incorrect rumours have spread that collections will move to a three-week schedule.
The council spokesperson clarified that this is not the case, with general and recycling waste being collected each fortnight.
However, the spokesperson said: “At the initial launch of the new collection rounds, some streets will experience a three-week gap in one of their waste collections following the start of the new schedules.”
They then told residents to present any excess waste on their next collection date when the schedule begins on Monday, June 9.
