Labour councillors in Wokingham have expressed their frustration over the Liberal Democrats’ refusal to commit to kerbside glass collection – despite new government legislation requiring it to be introduced from April next year and the council receiving £2.9 million to support the transition.
The Simpler Recycling scheme forces English councils to unify kerbside collections and requires soft plastics such as bread bags to be recycled from April 2027.
Wokingham’s plans had been due to be approved at the July 24 meeting of the ruling Executive, but the decision was pulled from the agenda.
At a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council held on Thursday, July 31, Nagi Nagella, Labour councillor for Norreys ward, questioned the council’s commitment to improving residents’ recycling.
He said: “From April next year, the government’s Simpler Recycling scheme requires local authorities to collect glass from residents’ doorsteps.
“We’ve seen a newspaper article from the executive saying they are waiting for a three-year funding settlement before making any decision.”
Cllr Nagella highlighted the long-standing Liberal Democrat support for kerbside glass collection while in opposition:
“Former Lib Dem leaders Clive Jones and Lyndsey Feris repeatedly campaigned for kerbside glass collection. Were they wrong?” he asked.
Cllr Katrin Harding, executive member for environment and climate emergency, acknowledged the delay, saying Wokingham was one of 30 local authorities that still had to set up kerbside collections, and the council’s financial position meant the Lib Dems couldn’t commit to this next year.
“There may be things we cannot do that we would have liked to do,” she said, warning that they would review all options, including keeping bottle banks.
But Cllr Nagella was disappointed with this response, informing Cllr Harding that the government had allocated Wokingham £2.9 million of a £1.1 billion fund to help councils introduce kerbside recycling schemes, and changing rules so that packaging producers pay a fair share for the cost of collecting and recycling.
After the meeting, he said: “When it comes to recycling, Wokingham residents are doing their part, but the council is dragging its feet over the changes to kerbside collections.
“Other local authorities, including re3 partners Bracknell Forest and Reading, have announced their Simpler Recycling plans, so why can’t Wokingham?
“The money is there, the legislation is clear, and residents have waited long enough for a basic service that other councils introduced years ago.”
