Carry on Recycling at Christmas

HOUSEHOLDS in Reading are being urged to carry on recycling over the festive period.

On average, we generate 30 per cent more waste at Christmas time and 70 per cent of this rubbish can be recycled. With such a lot of extra packaging, wrapping paper, jars and bottles being used it is even more important to think before you bin. It is now possible to recycle more than ever from your doorstep with clean foil, tetra paks, plastic tubs and trays accepted in your red bins and boxes as well as Christmas cards, wrapping paper, cardboard and plastic bottles. Please put your recycling in your bin or box loose, and not in plastic bags. Please take your glass bottles and jars to the many bottle banks around Reading so they can be recycled into glass products, and in some cases house insulation or astro turf. Residents can download the free re3cyclopedia app to check what can be recycled or to find their nearest glass banks. They can also view their collection days. A full list of items you can and can’t recycle – and where you can do it – can also be found at www.reading.gov.uk/recycling. The Recycling Centre on Island Road is open during the holiday period, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Opening times are 8am to 6pm, except for Christmas Eve when the centre closes at 4pm. As usual, bin collection days will change over the Christmas and New Year period. People can check their collection calendar or visit www.reading.gov.uk/bindates. On the first collection after Christmas, people can leave out an extra bag of rubbish next to their grey bin, and any extra recycling can be left in a cardboard box next to their red bin or box. Garden waste collections will finish as usual for the festive season on December 21st and begin again on January 7th. Make room for your new presents, including clothes and toys, by donating old unwanted gifts to your local charity shop - it could be just the thing that someone else is looking for. Please remember that all textiles and clothes that do not make it to charity, should be deposited in your nearest textile recycling bank and not in your grey or red bins.

Cllr Sophia James, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Neighbourhoods and Communities, said:

“The festive season can result in a lot of extra waste being created and I would encourage all households to recycle as much as they can. “It is now possible to recycle more than ever in your red bins and we would be really grateful if people could take their empty jars and bottles to their nearby bottle banks for re-use. It’s good for the planet and saves us all money.” Christmas Tree recycling sites open on January 2nd and stay open until January 18th. They will be in car parks at the following locations: Mapledurham Playing Fields Clayfield Copse Hills Meadow Rivermead Leisure Complex Kensington Road Recreation Ground Prospect Park Meadway Recreation Ground Tilehurst allotments, Armour Hill Palmer Park Sports Stadium Whitley Wood Recreation Ground South Reading Leisure Centre (Academy Sport) Northumberland Avenue The trees will be chipped by the Council and used in a range of landscaping schemes across the Borough. Residents are being advised not to be alarmed if they see piles of trees as it takes a few days to get round to each location.