CONTROVERSIAL plans to collect green non-recycling bins every three weeks are set to be postponed.

The proposals were unveiled as part of the council’s goal to introduce food waste collection bins from October 1, 2020, but this new service will also be pushed back. 

READ MORE: How will Bracknell Forest's bin collection timetable change?

Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) bosses are now aiming to roll-out the three-weekly green bin collections and the food waste service starting 1 March, 2021. 

A council document revealed the coronavirus pandemic is behind the delay. 

It read: "As a result of the Coronavirus, since early March online and social media communication has stalled.

"This means our residents are not as informed about the changes as planned at this time.

"One of the crucial elements of the summer communication focussed on face-to-face advice and support.

"Coronavirus restrictions have meant face to face interactions with residents have not been possible."

READ MORE: Why is the council changing the borough's bin timetable?

The pandemic led to a number of other issues which contributed to the council's recommendation to postpone the changes. 

These included: 

  • Production of the five vehicles ordered to collect food waste, which is taking place in Italy, has stalled
  • Mapping of new routes for bin men has been delayed due to staffing shortages at Bracknell Forest's SUEZ bin-collection team
  • Food waste caddy and liner production was on track for the original date, but collection schedule leaflets would not have been completed in time due to the issues around route modelling.

Councillor Dorothy Hayes, BFC's environment chief, said: "We are still very much committed to tackling the growing issue of climate change and rolling out a weekly food waste collection to reduce the borough’s impact on our environment.

“However, we are in unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and so we’re not ready to launch in October 2020 as we originally planned.

“The Executive is being asked to agree a delay of five months so the preparatory work can be carried out and we can communicate and engage with our residents properly, which hasn’t been possible due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“The delay is unfortunate but it’s important we do continue with the plans. By recycling food waste we are aiming to increase recycling rates and create renewable energy at the same time. It’s an environmental win-win.

“Additionally, recycling more will help reduce the financial cost of throwing waste in landfill, which could cost taxpayers millions of pounds over the next few years.

"This money can be ploughed into other essential services instead, including supporting our most vulnerable residents.”

The delay will cost Bracknell Forest Council £34,000 of the £219,000 saving it was set to make from changing green bin collections to every three weeks instead of every fortnight up to 2027. 

Delaying the changes comes as welcome news for Linsie Keen, the organiser of a petition signed by more than 3,000 people who opposed to the new green bin collection timetable and who were unhappy with a lack of consultation on the changes. 

READ MORE: 3,200 people sign petition against controversial bin changes

She told the News: "I am happy that the decision is set to be made to postpone the changes to our bin collections, especially as no public consultations have taken place. 

"Bracknell Forest Council should use this time to actually speak to its residents because if they did they will find that we do not object for the food bins, but hardly anyone is in favour of three-weekly general waste collections!

"I look forward to seeing a published schedule of when the consultations will take place."

The October changes were only planned for households in Bracknell Forest, with flats set to receive food waste bins in April 2021. 

Postponing the changes means flats and houses with communal bins will now likely receive food waste bins in Autumn 2021 instead. 

The move to postpone the changes to the bin timetable is expected to be confirmed by BFC's executive at a meeting on Tuesday, July 14.