October 2024

• Introduction
• The household waste service
• Presentation of containers for collection
• What materials can be placed in each bin?
• Grey general waste bin
• Red recycling bins/boxes
• Food waste
• Green garden waste
• Communal properties
• Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE)
• Bulky waste collections (chargeable service)
• Healthcare (clinical) waste collections
• Household waste recycling sites (HWRCs) and recycling banks
• How to contact us

Introduction

Reading Borough Council, as a Waste Enforcement Authority, has a duty placed on it by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to manage and regulate waste. The Council is committed to maintaining a clean and safe environment for the benefit of everyone in the town.

Under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Reading Borough is classed as a Waste Collection & Disposal Authority and as such, under section 45 (1), has a statutory duty to collect household waste from all domestic properties. Under Section 46(4) of the Act, the Council has specific powers to stipulate:

• The type and size of the receptacles required for collection of each waste type.
• The materials or items which may or may not be placed within each receptacle for collection.
• The presentation location of the receptacles, and access requirements to allow emptying.
• The time when the receptacles must be placed for collection and removed.

The council is committed to increasing the amount of waste that is recycled and to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill for environmental and financial reasons. This Service Standard sets out the responsibilities of the Council and the service user and defines how the Council will deliver both the domestic collection service.

1. The household waste service

This section describes the waste service the Council provides and the responsibilities of the Council and residents.

More information about waste services including requesting services is available.

The Council operates an alternate weekly collection system for refuse and recycling, a weekly food waste collection service (commencing in February 2021 for most households) and an on-request clinical waste service. It also provides chargeable fortnightly green waste collection and bulky waste services.

The type of receptacle provided for each waste type is shown in the table below:

Receptacle	Collection frequency	Waste type	Chargeable service
140l Grey refuse bin	Fortnightly	General	No
Black refuse sack	Weekly	General	No
240l Red recycling bins or boxes	Fortnightly	Recycling	No
23l Food waste bin	Weekly	Food waste	No
5l Kitchen food waste caddy	–	Food waste	No
Clinical waste collection	As required	Clinical waste	No
240l Green garden waste bins or bags (max 2 per property)	Fortnightly	Garden and green waste	Yes
Bulky waste collection service	As requested	Large items unsuitable for domestic collection.	Yes

1.1 The council understands that for some larger households, a 140l general waste bin capacity may not be sufficient. Such households should apply to the council for additional capacity. Officers may visit the household to conduct a bin audit and offer advice on waste management. Additional capacity in the form of white sacks will be issued to larger households which can demonstrate that they are only using their residual bin for items that cannot be collected via kerbside collections and bring banks, yet still need greater capacity than a 140l bin.

1.2 Licensed HMO properties (classified as properties with 3 or more people from 2 or more separate households) with 5 or more adults permanently residing at the property will be entitled to the same capacity as larger households. License holders/managers may be eligible to purchase additional waste capacity to ensure compliance with license conditions. Licence holders/managers must apply to the Council who will assess the application on a case-by-case basis.

1.3 Households with more than one child in nappies may be eligible to have an additional sack (provided by the council) collected for a period of 12 months, to be presented on the scheduled domestic waste collection day. Residents will need to apply on an annual basis.

1.4 In exceptional circumstances, households other than those specified in paragraphs 1.2 – 1.4 may be granted additional waste capacity. Householders should apply to the council including an explanation of their need for additional capacity. These applications will be subject to an assessment of the household’s current waste capacity which may involve accessing crew records and/or a visit to the property to conduct a waste audit.

1.5 Households that require collection of non-hazardous clinical waste (incontinence pads, stoma bags etc.) will be reviewed every 2 years for eligibility to receive the service.

1.6 Households who have limited/ no curtilage or who are in a road with limited width for a kerbside collection vehicle may instead be provided a weekly sack collection for their waste. With prior agreement from the Council, residents with a waste sack collection are required to present up to 3 waste sacks on a weekly basis or clear recycling bags on a fortnightly basis.

1.7 Developers are required to provide one grey general waste, red recycling, black food waste bin and silver food waste kitchen caddy with liners per registered household in new or converted properties.

1.8 Green wheeled bins or re-usable green bags can be purchased for collection of garden waste. Green waste bins will be subject to a delivery charge. The council will only collect green bins or bags that have been purchased from the council. Green waste bins and bags will only be collected from residents who have paid the relevant collection charge.

1.9 Additional or replacement recycling and food bins and liners will be provided by the council free of charge to encourage households to participate in or increase their recycling, as long as the bins are being used correctly. New or additional bins can be applied for via the Council website and rolls of liners will be available for collection from Council buildings and libraries.

1.10 General waste, recycling, food waste and green waste bins/containers will be replaced by the Council if the container falls into the waste collection vehicle on collection day or the collection vehicle damages the bin on collection, no charge will be made for a replacement or delivery. Kitchen caddies which are damaged are the responsibility of the householder to replace.

1.11 In the event that a bin/container is stolen from within the household’s property boundary the householder is expected to pay for a replacement bin.  If a bin is lost under any other circumstances the Council will use its discretion in re-charging for a replacement. No delivery charge will apply.

Where a household damages a grey, recycling, food bin or green bin, (e.g. by using hot ashes or modifying the bin) the household is expected to pay for a replacement bin. No delivery charge will apply.

1.12 In the event of a bin/box/bag becoming damaged through general wear and tear (eg. loose wheels, cracked body or lid) the household or property manager is expected to pay for a replacement bin, no delivery charge will apply. Kitchen caddies which are damaged are the responsibility of the householder to replace.

1.13 New or replacement bins/containers will usually be delivered within 20 working days.

1.14 All of these bins are provided for domestic purposes only. Their use for commercial purposes is illegal. 

1.15 All bins remain the property of the Council.  Bins should be left at the property if the resident moves out of the Borough.

1.16 Households are responsible for the upkeep of all wheeled bins on their property.

Presentation of containers for collection

1.17 Residents can find information about their collection days and view an online calendar on the Council’s website.

1.18 Unless otherwise notified, bins are emptied on the same day of each week and should be placed out for collection on alternate weeks. Food waste bins and sacks are collected weekly.

1.19 Households with a sack collection need to ensure that sacks are not presented in bins for collection. The sacks should be removed from the bins and placed on the pavement/footpath.

1.20 It is residents’ responsibility to place the bin, sack or box at the boundary of their property by 6am on the day of collection.  If the bin is not out by the time required, the crews will not return to collect the bin until the next scheduled collection.

1.21 We offer assisted collections for elderly and/or infirm residents who do not have an able bodied person in the household to present the bins at the kerbside on their behalf.

1.22 Bins, bags or boxes should be placed on the nearest public (Council maintained) pavement/footpath, normally in front of the property in a position that does not obstruct access to pedestrians and other users. This is shown in Figure 1.

If the property is on a privately owned road the bins should be presented at the property boundary.

1.23 Where there is no pavement, or the pavement is narrow adjoining a property (i.e. the property is next to the road), residents must place their bin, bag or box on collection day just inside the curtilage of their property adjacent the edge of the road).

1.24 In accordance with current British Standards, the collection crews will not walk to retrieve bins that are more than 15 metres for 2 wheeled bins and 10 metres for 4 wheeled bins from the rear of the collection vehicle. The pulling distance is measured from the rear of the collection vehicle to the back of the furthest bin.

1.25 Only bins that have been missed by the collection crew will be returned to. Bins which have not been presented by the stipulated time will not be collected as missed bins. Missed bin reports may be verified by the crew records and camera footage from the collection vehicles.

Residents are required to report missed bins via the online missed bin form within 48 hours of the scheduled collection. We will return to genuinely missed bins within 7 working days of it being reported.

1.26 The Council reserves the right to change the location of any collection points for operational reasons.

1.27 Collections will normally be provided from private/un-adopted roads where the following  conditions are met and maintained:

• i)  Road Surface – roads must be of sound construction to a suitable hard surface free of potholes and obstructions, which could cause damage to the vehicle.
• ii)  Road Width – the minimum road width to be not less than 3.2 metres with no obstruction from trees, shrubs, etc which could cause damage to the side of the vehicle.
• iii) Height Clearance – the minimum clearance should not be less than 4 metres with no obstruction from overhanging branches, cables etc., which could cause damage to the lighting on the roof of the vehicle
• iv)  Turning Area – where a through road does not exist, a suitable turning area must be available to allow the vehicle to turn round.  The turning area should be sufficient to allow the waste collection vehicle to turn with no more than three manoeuvres- i.e. 10.22 metres kerb to kerb.

1.28 The Council monitors compliance with these conditions. Should the situation deteriorate to the extent whereby the Council cannot be reasonably expected to continue the service, residents will be asked to take their wheeled bins to the nearest public highway on collection day unless a suitable accessible alternative location can be agreed.

1.29   Bins, bags or boxes must not be left on the public highway or footpaths after collection day unless agreed with the council. Bins left on the highway cause an obstruction and present a potential hazard to members of the public using the pavement. Residents are asked to ensure that wheeled bins are removed from the highway and returned to within the property boundary promptly after they have been emptied (section 46 Environmental Protection Act 1990).

1.30    Residents are responsible for ensuring that there are no parked cars belonging to their household or visitors which impede access for waste collection vehicles on collection day. The Council is required to make reasonable effort to collect bins provided it is safe to do so.  If bins cannot be collected on the due day they will not be emptied until the next collection.

1.31 Waste will occasionally become stuck in the bottom of a waste bin, causing it to fail to be emptied during the standard mechanical lifting and tipping process. This is typically caused by waste being compacted into a bin, forming a vacuum, or by a solid waste item that becomes wedged across the width of the bin. Should a resident experience this issue, they should remove the offending waste item from the bin and replace it, ensuring that it can move freely. If it is then reported as a missed bin, we will return within 7 working days to collect this waste, alternatively we will collect on the next scheduled collection day. Crews are not able to remove compacted waste.

What materials can be placed in each bin?

Grey Refuse bin

1.32 The grey bin is for domestic waste that cannot be recycled via the kerbside recycling and food waste collections, or at local recycling banks or the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Island Road. The material in the grey bin is either sent to landfill or to an Energy from Waste facility (EFW) which are both more expensive and environmentally undesirable forms of disposal than recycling.

1.33   The lists below refers to items that can and cannot be placed in the grey bins:

Can go in the grey bin	Can’t go in the grey bin
General waste which can’t be recycled, reused or composted:-   Non-recyclable waste, Polystyrene Nappies and sanitary waste	Food Waste – please present this for weekly collection in the 23l food waste bin. Recyclable and garden waste that can be placed in the red or green bins. Small Waste Electrical and Electronic  Equipment (Weee) Batteries and vapes Rubble and soil Hot ashes Hazardous waste which includes but is not limited to:- Hazardous clinical waste (sharps, blood products) Asbestos Pesticides, paint and oils

1.34   Bins are designed to be emptied safely with lids closed. Collection crews will remove any items on top of or to the side of the bin, and will not collect any  excess or side waste.

1.35 Any waste not contained within the bin with the lid closed and left as excess at the side of the bin will not be collected, and if it is not removed from the public highway this will be regarded as fly tipping. 

1.36 Grey general waste bins found to contain waste which is not household waste (e.g. vehicle parts, hazardous materials, builder’s rubble, concrete, business waste, etc.) will not be emptied.  There is a weight limit for wheeled bins of 25 kilograms. Any bins exceeding this weight cannot be emptied by the vehicle and residents will be required to remove all heavy items before the next scheduled collection.  The crew will report this on their schedules. Crews will not return to empty bins which have been made lighter until the next scheduled collection.

Red recycling bins/boxes

1.37 Householders are asked to ensure recyclable containers (plastic pots, tubs and trays, bottles/tins) are rinsed out.

1.38 The list below refers to items that can and cannot be placed in the red bins/boxes:

Can go in the red bin/box	Can’t go in the red bin/box
Paper & Card Junk mail & flyers Plastic bottles (drinks, toiletries, bleach & detergents) Empty drinks and food cans Empty Aerosols Clear plastic food trays Ice cream & margarine tubs Yoghurt, cream, soup & snack pots Cosmetic pots and tubs (no lids) Foil trays and clean foil Cartons (no lids)	Trade recycling Glass bottles and jars* Food waste Nappies or sanitary waste Plastic bags Black plastic food trays Food wrappers Kitchen towels, tissues and wet wipes Polystyrene Textiles* Small Waste Electrical and Electronic  Equipment (Weee) Batteries and vapes

*These items should be taken to the nearest Bring Bank site.

1.39 Small amounts of shredded paper can be sent for recycling provided they are placed in an envelope or cereal box. Large amounts of loose shredded paper causes problems with the sorting equipment.

1.40 All recyclable waste should be placed loose in the red bins/boxes. Do not put recycling in plastic bags as this makes it difficult to separate.

1.41 Large cardboard packaging boxes should be folded or cut up and placed in the bin.  If they will not fit in the bin they can be placed neatly next to the bin on the day of collection. Wet cardboard cannot be recycled effectively. If you present excess cardboard next to your recycling bin please keep it dry until you put it out. Larger items of cardboard should be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Island Road.

1.42 Bins/boxes containing items other than those described in table 1.30 will not be emptied and will be classed as ‘contaminated’. When found, the Council will not empty the bin/box. Crews will record this on their In-cab device, which connects to the Council Contact Centre.

Residents are required to report missed bins by 12 midnight on the working day after the scheduled collection. Reports should be made via the online missed bin form . Missed bin reports may be verified by the crew records and camera footage from the collection vehicles The Council will return to genuinely missed bins within 7 working days of a report. Information about  missed bin reports is available to view online until midnight on the following working day after collection was due. E mail updates will be sent to residents about the status of the missed bin collection.

The Council will not return to a contaminated bin until the next scheduled collection. This policy contained in this service standard may be applied to residents who present contaminated bins.

1.43 Excess recyclable waste can be placed in cardboard boxes by the side of the bin/box on collection day. We would appreciate it if you could make every effort to keep side waste such as this dry on collection day.

1.44 If households have a need for an additional bin/box for recycling they may request one.

Food Waste

Please use the plastic liners provided in your 5l kitchen caddy. Other plastic bags such as bread bags can also be used. The use of liners in food waste caddies is not essential but they make containing the food waste easier.

Can be put in the food waste bin	Can’t be put in the food waste bin
Uneaten food and plate scrapings Raw and cooked vegetables and peelings Raw and cooked fish and meat Dairy products Bread cakes and pastries, pasta and rice Tea and coffee grounds Cooking oil sealed in a plastic bottle placed inside your 23l bin.	Plastic food packaging Compostable liners Large bones Large amounts of liquid Animal waste

Residents who prefer not to use plastic liners can use newspaper or paper bags, or use their caddy unlined. Where liners are not being used, we recommend frequent cleaning of both the 5l caddy and the 23l bin. Full liners should be tied and placed in the 23l food bin which is put out for collection at the kerbside weekly. Liners are separated from food waste at the treatment plant and sent for Energy from Waste.     

1.45 Please do not let your kitchen caddy become too full before emptying and do not present it at the kerbside for your weekly collection: only present the food waste bin for collection.

1.46 Used cooking oil can be put into a plastic bottle and sealed and placed inside the 23l food waste bin for collection. Liquids and oil in bottles left outside the food waste bin will not be collected.

1.47 Food bins containing items other than those described in the food waste table above will not be emptied and will be classed as   ‘contaminated’. When found, the Council will not empty the bin/box an crews will record this on their In-cab device which connects in real time to the Council Contact Centre.

Residents are required to report missed bins by 12 midnight on the working day after the scheduled collection. Reports should be made via the online missed bin form.  Missed bin reports may be verified by the crew records and camera footage from the collection vehicles The Council will return to genuinely missed bins within 7 working days of a report. Information about missed bin reports is available to view online until midnight on the following working day after collection was due. Email updates will be sent to residents about the status of the missed bin collection.

1.48  Do not present 5l food waste caddies at the kerbside: they will not be emptied.

2.        Green Garden Waste

2.1     The chargeable green waste collection service is undertaken 50 weeks of the year for households that maintain their own gardens.

2.2     Households will be required to purchase up to a maximum of 2 green waste container(s) from the Council.

2.3     The subscription will run for a period of 12 months from the date payment is received.

2.4     Concessions will be given only to those in receipt of Council Tax Support. 

2.5     The list below refers to items that can and cannot be placed in the green bins/bags:

Can be put in the green bin/bag	Can’t be put in the green bin/bag
Grass cuttings and leaves Flowers and annual weeds Hedge clippings Small branches up 100mm thick	Animal waste, bedding and straw Windfall fruit Gravel, rubble or hard core Food waste (including fruit & veg) Large amounts of turf or soil Waste from a gardener or contractor working at the property

2.6     All green waste should be placed loose in the green bins/bags not in plastic bags.

2.7  Green waste bins or bags containing items other than those described in table 2.5 will not be emptied and will be classed as ‘contaminated’. When found, the Council will leave the bin/bag and report it to the contact centre. It will be the responsibility of the individual householder to remove the items causing contamination and dispose of them correctly. The Council will not return until the next scheduled collection.

2.8 Green bins/bags need to be presented at the curtilage of the property with the handles facing the road and away from the other grey and red bins by 6am on the morning of collection. The Council will not return to properties that have not presented their green waste containers until the next scheduled collection.

2.9 Any green waste presented in containers other than those purchased from the council will not be collected. Green bins or bags containing items other than those described in paragraph 2.5 will not be emptied and will be classed as ‘contaminated’. When found, the Council will not collect the bin/bag and crews will record this on their In-cab device which connects in real time to the Council Contact Centre.

Residents are required to report missed bins by 12 midnight on the working day after the scheduled collection. Reports should be made via the online missed bin form. Missed bin reports may be verified by the crew records and camera footage from the collection vehicles The Council will return to genuinely missed bins within 7 working days of a report. Information about missed bin reports is available to view online until midnight on the following working day after collection was due. E mail updates will be sent to residents about the status of the missed bin collection.

2.10   Green bins are designed to be emptied safely with lids closed; therefore any overloaded and overweight bins (exceeding 60kg) will be rejected and not emptied.

2.11 Green waste collections are attempted in sub-zero temperatures but frozen contents cannot always be dislodged. If this occurs emptying will attempted on the next due collection date.

Residents are required to report missed bins by 12 midnight on the working day after the scheduled collection. Reports should be made via the online missed bin form. Missed bin reports may be verified by the crew records and camera footage from the collection vehicles The Council will return to genuinely missed bins within 7 working days of a report. Information about missed bin reports is available to view online until midnight on the following working day after collection was due. E mail updates will be sent to residents about the status of the missed bin collection.

2.12  If households  have a need for an additional bin/bag for green waste (maximum 2 per property) they may request one.

3. Communal properties

Flats

3.1 The Council provides fortnightly general waste collection services for residents
living in purpose-built blocks of flats, with separate collections of recycling
undertaken on a fortnightly basis. Communal flats will receive a weekly
communal food waste collection, in a phased approach from Feb 2021.

3.2  The collection frequency for all new developments and new build/converted properties will be on a fortnightly basis for both household and recyclable wastes. The Council is not able to provide general waste or recycling collections more frequently than this on the standard household waste collection service.

3.3  Food waste will be collected weekly from all properties either from 23l food bins or from communal bins with blue lids) depending on what type is provided.

3.4     It is the responsibility of the developers or managing agents to provide the correct number of bins for both household and recyclable wastes. The Council has produced information and guidance for developers and managing agents about the Councils requirements for the management of waste in developments.

3.5     The council will work with developers and managing agents to ensure the correct number of bins are in place in relation to the number of properties.

3.6  In most instances, flats will be provided with communal bins to be shared between all flats at the development. Bin provision will be assessed based on the number of registered properties. It is the responsibility of the developer to ensure there is sufficient storage space for the required number of bins.

3.7 Where there is limited access to collect bins from a designated bin store (internal or external). The Council will request that managing agents/housing associations arrange for the bins to be presented at a designated collection point and returned to the bin store area after collection.

3.8  It is the responsibility of the Managing Agent/Housing Association to ensure that all bins and bin stores are secure and access and lighting is maintained.

3.9  Large or hazardous items are not to be placed in the communal bins e.g.  furniture, electrical items, vehicle parts, hazardous materials, builder’s rubble, large DIY items and concrete. See section 5 for details of the Council’s chargeable bulky waste service.

3.10 Bins are designed to be emptied safely with lids closed; therefore any over filled bins will have any bags or other items not contained within the bin removed and placed in the bin store area.

3.11Excess or side waste is not permitted and if the crews cannot access the bins due to excess waste, they will not be emptied.  Managing Agents/Housing Associations will be required to rectify the situation before the next scheduled collection. When the area has been cleared the bins will be emptied on request of the Managing Agent/Housing Association and when payment has been made for a revisit.  Otherwise, the bins will be emptied on the next scheduled visit.

3.12 Communal recycling bins containing items other than those described in paragraph 1.37 will not be emptied and will be classed as ‘contaminated’. Arrangements will need to be made by the Managing Agent/Housing Association to clear the contaminated waste from the bins. The Council will on request empty the contaminated bins when payment has been made for a revisit. Otherwise, the bins will be emptied on the next scheduled visit (if not contaminated).

3.13   Communal food waste bins containing items other than those described in paragraph 1.44 will not be emptied and will be classed as ‘contaminated’. Arrangements will need to be made by the Managing Agent/Housing Association to clear the contaminated waste from the bins. The Council will on request empty the contaminated bins when payment has been made for a revisit. Otherwise, the bins will be emptied on the next scheduled visit (if not contaminated).

3.14   If locks are to be fitted to any doors or gates at bin storage areas, these should be either combination or keypad style with a code. Developers and site managers should be aware that the code will be held within our collection records and shared with a number of collection staff to ensure ease of access. Individual patterned, physical keys or security fobs will not be accepted or permitted. All arrangements must be agreed with Reading Borough Council prior to installation.

Mixed domestic / commercial properties

3.15   Commercial  properties with living accommodation attached, e.g.  Flats above shops or flats/developments where there are commercial businesses included on the same site (e.g. offices, hairdresser, food outlet, grocery shop) must have separate lockable bin areas. The managing agents/landlords will need to provide space on the site for both commercial  and household waste to ensure properties have the standard household waste collection service. The bins provided for domestic purposes must not be used to dispose of any commercial  waste.  Anyone found using bins in this way may be subject to prosecution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the bins may be removed.

3.16   Flats above shops that do not have access to bins will be required to present their waste in RBC sacks in designated collection areas set by the Council.

4 . Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE)

4.1     The council provides a collection service for small electrical items from households that present their own individual recycling bins for kerbside collections. This is not provided for households with communal recycling bins.

4.2     The items – which include electric or battery-powered children’s toys, hairdryers, toasters and power tools  – should be left in an untied carrier bag next to or on top of the red bins or boxes on collection day. They should not measure any more than 30cm x 24cm. Power cables can be included.

4.3     The crews will take one bag per household on each recycling collection and the items will be placed in special collection cages on the side of refuse lorries.

4.4     Where items are too large to be collected, the crew will not collect them and residents will have to make alternative arrangements for disposal. 4.5     Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) must not be placed within grey general waste, red recycling or food waste bins due to the possibility that they can cause fires in refuse vehicles or at the recycling centre.

5 .  Bulky waste collections (chargeable service)

5.1     This Council operates a discretionary service for the removal of up to five domestic household goods (generally defined as items that you would take when you move home) for a charge.

5.2     There is a charge for the first 3 items, and a smaller charge for each additional item up to 5 items in total.  Please refer for details of the current charges. Full details of what the Council will collect and its charges can be found on the bulky waste collection page.

5.3     Households can request a bulky waste collection.

5.4     Collections will be made within five working days from receipt of payment. The town is split into 2 halves for the purpose of bulky waste: with the East of Reading collected on a Monday, the West on Wednesday and Fridges/Freezers on a Friday.

5.5     The Council will not collect any items other than those stated on the website.

5.6     Items must be left on the day of collection in a location from where they can be easily retrieved and without causing a risk to the public.  Collection staff will not enter a property to collect items.

5.7     In the event that there are too many requests for a particular day, the Council reserves that right to change the collection day to the following week, residents will be given prior notice and the option for a refund if they can’t wait until the revised date.

6. Healthcare (Clinical) Waste Collections

6.1     If a resident is self-treating a medical condition and has healthcare/clinical waste which could potentially carry an infection (e.g. needles, syringes or other sharp instruments, any waste which includes blood or body fluids, human tissue, swabs or dressings, drugs or other pharmaceutical products), the Council will collect these on request. (If a resident is in receipt of care from a healthcare professional, any sharps/healthcare hazardous waste produced during treatment, should be removed and disposed of by the healthcare professional).

6.2     Residents requiring a clinical waste collection should be referred to the Council by their GP Surgery, District Nurse or NHS Trust. Such referrals should be in writing either by letter or email, and be clearly identifiable as coming from the patient’s medical providers.

6.3     The Council’s contractor will provide the first container and replacement containers on collection. Replacements are based on the same number of containers left as those collected (i.e one for one)

6.4     Residents are required to leave the clinical waste for collection on their own property, usually in a discreet location agreed prior to the commencement of collections. Replacement containers are left in the same location.

6.5     Collection currently takes place on a Friday,  and collections may occur early morning through to late afternoon on that day. Residents will be informed by telephone if there is any delay or change to this collection day.

6.6     It is the surgery or NHS trust’s responsibility to update the Council when a patient no longer requires a clinical collection.

6.7     If no clinical waste has been presented from a regular user of the service for 3 consecutive weeks, or minimal amounts of clinical waste are being presented, the resident will be contacted to confirm they still require the service. Collections will be suspended until confirmation is received that the resident requires the service.

6.8     Sharps and clinical waste which are generated by an intravenous drug user will not be collected through the council’s clinical waste collection service. If the producer is part of a needle return scheme, the sharps should be returned to the agreed location in the receptacle provided.

6.9     Landlords or managing agents will be responsible for the cost of collection and disposal of any sharps or medical/clinical waste accumulated by their tenants who have not registered with the Council’s free collection service. This also applies to needles which are controlled by needle exchange arrangements.

6.10   Landlords or managing agents are responsible for the disposal of any clinical waste which is left in their premises by tenants when they leave. Once the tenant has vacated this waste becomes commercial and it is the responsibility of the landlord/managing agent to arrange collection by a licensed waste contractor at his cost.

7. Miscellaneous

7.1     Recycling and Enforcement Officers monitor contamination reports from collection crews to identify households that are having difficulty sorting their waste and recycling correctly. The Officer may visit the household to undertake an assessment of their waste capacity and any issues relating to recycling and make recommendations for improvements (a ‘bin audit’).

7.2     The Council reserves the right to amend the collection frequency and time of collections at any time and for any reason.

7.3  The Council reserves the right to withdraw any discretionary services at any time.  

8.  Alternative disposal of waste – household waste recycling sites (HWRCs) and recycling banks

8.1 Residents may use either the Smallmead or Longshot Lane HWRC’s to dispose  of excess waste and recycling materials.

These sites are operated on behalf of the Council and its other partners, Bracknell and Wokingham Councils, by re3 Ltd. The site is their responsibility.

8.2   Residents can recycle glass bottles and jars and textiles at any of our neighbourhood Bring Banks throughout the Borough.

9.  How to contact us

9.1 Residents wishing to make service request or enquiry can either fill out an online waste enquiry form or write to Environmental & Commercial Services, 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX

9.2 Residents wishing to make a compliment or complaint: Complaints or write to Environmental & Commercial Services , 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX

9.3  Residents wishing to make a compliment or complaint about the re3 Ltd facilities at Longshot Lane or Smallmead should contact re3 Ltd: Smallmead Waste Management Park, Island Road, Reading, RG2 0RP; Tel: 0800 9883023, website: https://re3.fccenvironment.co.uk/contact-us/

10.   Future updates

10.1   These operational procedures are kept under review in light of ever-changing operational demands.