Doorstep glass collection coming to Reading!

Reading residents will soon be able to recycle glass from their doorstep if the council agrees the plans next week.

The council started ordering the special trucks needed for the service in July. But like many other councils, Reading has had problems getting the trucks because of supply issues.

The new glass collection service will now start in April 2027. At the same time, you'll also be able to recycle soft plastics from your doorstep. This has already been tested in some parts of Reading.

What you'll get

Most homes will get a 55-litre box for glass. This will be collected every two weeks.

Flats and shared buildings will get bigger 240 litre bins. Homes with very little space for bins might get special bags instead.

When it will be collected

Glass will be collected on the same day as your garden waste, but on alternate weeks. The council planned for this when they changed collection days earlier this year.

Why it's good for the environment

The council hopes collecting glass and soft plastics from homes will help Reading recycle more. When doorstep food waste collection started in 2021, Reading's recycling rate jumped from 32% to 50%.

Right now, you can recycle glass at over 40 bottle banks around Reading. Many people already use these, which is good compared to other areas.

Recycling glass is good for the environment because it uses 30% less energy to make new glass from recycled glass than making it from scratch. It also means less waste goes to landfill.

Government rules

The new service follows the Government's 'Simpler Recycling' rules. These say all homes should be able to recycle mixed recyclables, food waste, glass and garden waste from their doorstep.

This helps Reading meet its goals to send less waste to landfill, reduce pollution, and look after the environment better.

Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said:

“We know that the introduction of doorstep glass recycling in Reading has been highly anticipated by many. The Council shares that ambition and is energised to bring the service to fruition.

“The capacity has been established within our new collection rounds introduced earlier this year but a great deal of work still needs to go into delivering the new service. Specialised vehicles are required to implement this work, and because many councils are working towards the same goal of implementing glass and food recycling, supply chains across the market are understandably stretched.

“In the meantime, we encourage you to keep doing the great job you already do in recycling your glass at Reading’s 40+ bottle bank sites, as we work at speed to save you that journey in the future.”