WINNERSH shoppers looking to do their bit for the environment will have to do some polluting instead, after a supermarket withdrew its recycling section.
For years, people have been able to recycle glass, cardboard and plastics from the Sainsbury’s store on King Street Lane. And it was so popular that the bins would often be overflowing, with excess left next to them.
Earlier this month, the store removed these bins and fenced the area off.
A note attached to it tells people wanting to do the right thing that they should use alternate facilities at Asda in Lower Earley, or the Morrisons store in Woosehill. Another option suggested was the re3 recycling centre in Reading.
All of these are not within walking distance, meaning cars will need to be used, increasing carbon emissions rather than helping save the planet.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson says, “We regularly review our facilities and have recently changed our car park recycling services in line with customer demand.
“We will continue to provide car park recycling for textiles in certain stores, including our Winnersh superstore.
“Recycling inside stores, such as flexible plastics and batteries, will remain the same.”
The decision not to collect shoppers’ waste has been rubbished by Winnersh ward councillor Prue Bray.
She said: “I am not at all happy with Sainsbury’s. Supermarkets are a source of a lot of materials which need to be recycled, and they should be helping people to do that, not shutting their facilities.
“The need for the recycling centre is clearly there because the issue is too much recycling, not too little.
“Surely the better answer would be to empty the recycling more often or expand it, not leave people having to drive further to dispose of it.
“How does that help reduce carbon emissions?”
And she warned: “Sainsbury’s may come to regret their decision.
“If people have to drive to Asda or Morrisons for their recycling, they may just decide to do their shopping there as well.”
