Taken from Wokingham Borough Council News Centre.
Wokingham Borough Council is launching the first phase of its journey to a new waste and recycling service – and needs early input from residents.
The borough’s current waste and recycling collection contract expires in 2026 and, to make sure it gets the right service for the future, the council is starting early engagement with residents to understand their priorities. This early engagement will be followed by further consultation next year to make sure residents’ views are considered at every stage as a Waste Strategy is produced.
Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment, said: “We understand how important waste and recycling collections are to residents and that is why we want to hear from people throughout the process of writing a new strategy. With 72,000-plus households, it is obviously impossible to have a waste and recycling service that everybody agrees is perfect – but the more we hear from people, the more we can take their views on board.
“This first phase will just be about principles and priorities – we are not getting into details now because we don’t want to jump to conclusions – but there will be further opportunities for engagement and consultation as we get closer to the detailed decisions.”
This early engagement will increase the council’s understanding of residents’ priorities for future waste and recycling services– such as cost, environmental issues and convenience. Later we will consult on options for different service options and then later still on the drafted strategy.
The consultation on waste and recycling will take place on the council’s new online platform, Engage Wokingham Borough, which will be used to improve the way the authority listens to residents and has genuine two-way dialogue.
Council leader John Halsall said: “Like many local authorities, we are sometimes accused of not listening or engaging with residents as well as we should and there are occasions when that is fair criticism – so we are doing something about it.
“Engage Wokingham Borough will create meaningful, ongoing engagement with people about decisions and services. It is a flexible online platform that will allow residents to sign-up to find out about and discuss vital issues as well as take part in surveys and share their views. We are starting with waste and recycling but it will feature topics such as climate emergency, local strategic planning and other major issues we face.
“Of course, we are aware that not everybody will be able to access this online and will make sure there are alternative ways for people to engage – but the key message is: please take part and join us for reasoned, informed discussions that will help make the borough an even better place.”
Residents can sign up to Engage Wokingham Borough to take part in the waste and recycling engagement and others at via the Engage Wokingham Borough webpage.
If you need help with the survey, call us on 0118 974 6000.
