IT’S been called for from residents for years – and is up there with wheelie bins as a talking point. Now it’s reality.
A new glass collection service has been launched to help the borough recycle and reduce trips to the bottle banks.
Wokingham resident David Nice said he was inspired to set up The Glass Company after learning that his parents had started to find it harder to take their empties to the banks, often located in supermarkets and street corners.
“The idea initially started when my partner and I moved into our first house,” said Mr Nice.
“With both of us working and having a little boy, we soon discovered the inconvenience of a trip to the bottle bank.
“More importantly, this task was becoming unachievable for our ageing parents.
“The broken glass, heavy boxes and time spent searching for bottle banks with space meant that we ended up doing the trip for three households.”
And he said that he wanted to find a solution, knowing that the borough council currently doesn’t offer a kerbside collection service, despite collecting food waste and other recycling.
“After researching it became clear that
a better and more efficient way of disposing of household glass was needed and that the changes needed to start at home in our community,”
Mr Nice said.
Hence the launch of The Glass Company, which provides a monthly glass collection service for the borough and surrounding areas, with participants receiving a 60 litre box to store their bottles and jars in.
There is a fee for the service and it cannot collect mirrors, Pyrex glass and light bulbs.
It also plans to gift 10% of profits to the council to encourage recycling schemes.
“As recyclable packaging is becoming more prominent and consciousness of sustainability increases there is a growing increase in glass packaged items,” continued Mr Nice.
“Glass can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity, however recycling rates of glass aren’t keeping up with demand.
“The average family uses 500 glass bottles and jars every year, yet five or six are thrown away and not recycled, purely out of inconvenience. This heavily impacts our environment and carbon footprint.”
Lockdown has been a tricky time for many local businesses, but the Glass Company is able to offer a contactless service.
Mr Nice said: “The delivery of boxes has taken place with careful consideration of PPE and communication with households.
“For some more vulnerable customers, this service has allowed them to remain in isolation and has removed the need for another trip outside of their homes.”
For more information, visit: theglasscompany.org
