PLANS FOR the Wokingham Borough Council to replace the current black recycling boxes with waterproof recycling sacks will be internally scrutinised next week.

The Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) announced the possibility of the change on July 28, in the hopes of cutting costs as well as improving recycling rates.

According to WBC, the reasoning for the change is the current black boxes do not protect paper/card from rain, and recycling centres are now refusing to recycle wet card.

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In order to mediate this, the sack provides greater protection from the elements, and also saves the council money in terms of refused waste.

Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said: "Continuing to drive up the borough’s recycling rate is crucial and the switch to waterproof recycling sacks, which will have minimal impact on residents, will help to do that.

"They’ve been tested by our teams and our partners and we feel these will help us solve our wet waste problem, as well as providing extra capacity so residents can recycle even more.

"The waterproof material and sealable top mean residents won’t have to worry about their recycling efforts going to waste, with 5,000 tonnes of what was wet waste unable to be recycled now able to be recycled.

"This amounts to a cost avoidance of £400,000 annually for residents – on top of the environmental benefits."

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"Sacks will be easy to use, sealed by Velcro, with each household being given two sacks but more available if required by collecting from community hubs.

"The seal will keep animals out of the sacks, while the weight in the bottom will stop them blowing around in the wind."

The WBC executive agreed to fund the purchase of the sacks on July 30, however the decision to implement their use will be scrutinised by the council's overview and scrutiny committee in the next meeting, August 26.