Roadside recycling
roadside food waste collection (free)
Food waste that goes into landfill (as happen when it’s put in a black bin) contributes about 11% of methane emissions, a significant contributor to climate change. Using the council-supplied caddy that’s collected at the roadside weekly is said to be the third most effective way to help reduce carbon footprint/stop climate change.
roadside garden waste collection (charged)
Recycling garden waste helps the environment by reducing methane build up in land fill sites. You can subscribe the service HERE.
batteries
You can dispose of most
household batteries at the kerbside. This includes AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D, A23
(12-volt), PP3 (9-volt), 3v lithium cells,
LR44 (1.5-volt) and the like. Just place them
in a clear bag, such as a freezer or sandwich, and
leave on the top of your black wheelie bin on collection day. this service is not available for communal bin
store. Car/moped batteries, power tool batteries and vapes should be taken to the waste and recycling centres at Padworth or Newbury.
plastic recycling
The council added plastic pots/trays/bottles roadside in SPring 2025. Just put them in the green bag on recyling day. They can also be taken to Padworth and Newtown Road waste and recycling centres:
Accepted items
first remove film/foil lids and put in black bin or take to Co-Op:
- Small/large cream pots
- Plastic takeaway tubs & ready meal trays
- Clear fruit trays
- Clean meat trays (excl. black)
- Individual Clear yoghurt pots
more accepted items:
- large white yoghurt/creme fraiche pots and plastic lids
- Spread/margarine tubs and lids
- Biscuit tray packaging
- plastic milk and drink bottles (with lids loose in bag)
- shampoo/conditioner/shower gel bottles
- cleaning bottles – but no trigger heads (lids loose in bag)
- metal food tins
- drink cans
- aerosols (lids loose in bag)
Not Accepted items
- soft outer plastic wrappers and bread bags (Co-Op accept these).
- Individual white yoghurt pots (largely phased out, should be discarded in the black bin)
- Black plastic food trays (black bin)
- Foil lids and trays
- Plastic film and wrapping– such as bread bags and tray coverings (Co-Op accept these)
- Crisp packets
- Flowerpots
- Hot beverage pods (please take these to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre)
- Tetra Paks/cartons (these can be recycled at the Willink Leisure Centre mini recycling bank and the Padworth waste recycling centre)
- Blister packs/pill packets (can be taken to major chemists – not Mortimer Methodist)
Here’s a handy summary of what can be recycled where.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips on what is collected where, charges and how the services differ.
what recycling does the council collect from the roadside, paid or free?
This leaflet summarises the council roadside collection service of garden waste, food waste and recycling. Only garden waste is chargeable.
how do I subscribe to garden waste subscription?
Click here to subscribe.
will the council collect food waste if I do not subscribe to the garden waste service?
yes, you can put food waste, in compostable bag(s), into your green wheelie bin for fortnightly roadside collection even if you don’t subscribe to the garden waste service. If you don’t have a green wheelie bin you can request one by email HERE. In Autumn 2022 the council will deliver food waste caddies to residents and introduce a weekly collection
what different plastic waste is collected at the roadside, waste centres, Sainsburys’ Tadley and Ali’s scheme?
There is some overlap between what the Padworth centre and Sainsburys’ accept, none of which is collected at the roadside. Ali’s service focuses on manufacturer-sponsored collection of items not collected via other means. Check out this page for details of her initiative.
can I put food and garden waste in the black bin?
It is bad for the environment to do either. Since there is no charge for food waste collection, other than the cost of the special bags, please separate food waste.