BLUE BAGS are on their way, according to Wokingham Borough Council.
From Monday, February 6, residents across the borough will be sent a roll of 54 blue general rubbish bags, covering between April 2023 and March 2024.
It is expected that all houses will have received their deliveries by mid March.
For financial reasons, the council’s decision-making executive agreed last September to reduce the number of blue bags for each household from 80 to 54 per year.
In July, the council also announced it would stop providing free food caddy liners due to rising costs.
Cllr Ian Shenton, executive member for environment, sport and leisure, said: “The reduction of the number of blue bags has allowed our waste budget to stay as previously set, instead of having to increase by £149,000. Stopping the supply of caddy liners has avoided adding a further £120,000.
“These changes will obviously help make a difference to this year’s budget and allow us to focus on keeping our vital services going and supporting residents who need us during these turbulent times.”
A leaflet produced by the council will also be enclosed in the delivery to give information on how to recycle more and waste less.
Cllr Shenton added: “With these 54 blue bags, we are asking all residents to take on the ‘One Bag Challenge’ again and put out an average of one blue bag of general rubbish per week.
“It’s not difficult, really. For the vast majority of our residents, one blue rubbish bag per week will be more than enough if you put all of your recyclable items in the green recycling bags and the food waste containers.”
The council has found that more than half of what goes into blue bags is recyclable, with food waste being the biggest culprit, followed by paper, cardboard, soft plastic bags and others.
If disposed of correctly, the council estimates this would save around £1 million a year.
Although food caddy liners are no longer supplied for free, the council is urging residents to continue using the food waste collection service.
Cllr Shenton said: “You can use whatever bags you happen to have at home, buy your own liners or leave the caddy unlined.
“When recycled, food waste can generate energy to power our homes. It also breaks down into a liquid fertiliser rich in nitrogen for farmers’ fields, improving the soil and helping grow crops.
“If food waste is put into blue bags, it will be disposed of, rot and release methane, a greenhouse gas harmful to the environment.”
If residents need more green recycling bags, they can visit any of the collection hubs in the borough to collect up to four bags.
Alternatively, they can be ordered for delivery on the council website, which may take up to 15 working days.
For more information on the blue bag delivery, visit: wokingham.gov.uk and search “annual blue bin bag delivery”.
