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Pat Kenniwell, of Birch and Hanworth Liasion Group, I like the idea as it could be a reward for the younger members of the family and encourage them to get involved rather than leaving it all to mum."
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What does Bracknell Think? Recycling rewards scheme

By Becky Barnes
November 28, 2012

THIS week we asked our panel about Bracknell Forest Council’s new recycling reward scheme and if they thought it would boost recycling in the borough

Hazel Kent, manager of the Market Cafe at Bracknell Market: “I think it’s a good idea. It won’t make me recycle any more as I already do it.

“I would rather they invested the money in a service to collect glass from the kerbside. I will admit, I don’t recycle glass as it takes so long for me to collect enough to take to a bank that it’s then soaking wet and the car gets filthy, let alone the garden looking a mess with all the boxes being stored. I won’t even start on the subject of what we can and can’t recycle!”

Pat Kennewell, of Birch Hill and Hanworth Liaison Group: “I like the idea as it could be a reward for the younger members of the family and encourage them to get involved rather than leaving it all to mum.

“I recycle as much as possible, but it is easy for me as I am on my own. I do feel rather sorry for the collectors as it seems they are having to shoulder more and more in order to cut costs and meet targets set for councils. Hopefully the guys doing the work will not lose out yet again.”

Jonathan Greenyer, an artist and author from Winkfield: “The biggest boost to recycling will not come from introducing a silly incentive scheme, it comes from a sustained programme of making recycling part of everyday life.

“If all it takes to increase recycling is to introduce a complex and trivial promotional offer then we would have cracked recycling decades ago.

“Ask people why they don’t recycle and the one answer they will not give you is ‘it’s because I can’t earn an incentive to a local golf course’. Building recycling into a way of life is achieved over a period of time with a coordinated programme of education; improved recycling collection; reducing waste; and simplifying the way packaging is labelled for recycling.”

Caroline Allain, from Forest Park: “I think this is a good idea and would encourage some people to recycle more, but I live in a block of flats and can’t see how this will work for us. Six flats share one bin, we recycle but are not sure everyone else does.

“I would also like to see some kind of weekly compost collections with tight smell-proof bins provided to allow people in flats to compost their food waste. I would say a large portion of our rubbish is food, which could normally be composted, but we don’t have the means to do so.”

Peter Smith, of The Better Business Alliance: “I think anything that encourages recycling and the reduction in the costs and environmental impact of landfill can only be a good thing.

“As long as it covers its costs and hopefully contributes something towards keeping rates down then it would be difficult to criticise. Well done Bracknell Forest in looking to provide an 80:20 solution and get the maximum benefit without complicating things with bin-chips etc. So often solutions are introduced with an unnecessary level of bureaucracy and complexity resulting in the benefits being squandered.”

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Most recent user comments 2 of 2

@PoneRana - I agree that we need more glass recycling, and I would support your desire to have a centre closer than 15 mins walk, which is a fair trek when carrying bags of glass. I would comment that unless you use home delivery, you probably brought those heavy glass items from the supermarket in the first place, when they were full. If you can lug them from the shop to home, full of their contents, surely you can take them back to the supermarket when empty.

mavdo, Wokingham
29/11/2012 at 09:22

There is an urgent need to do something about the recycling of glass. My nearest recycling point is for me fifteen minutes walk away. It is also extremely difficult to take heavy glass items on the bus to the supermarket.