re3 Waste Management Strategy 2026-2031 consultation, for residents of Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils
The re3 Partnership - Bracknell Forest, Reading, and Wokingham Borough Councils - is developing a new waste strategy to guide waste disposal services from 2026 to 2031. This strategy will aim to reduce waste, improve recycling, and deliver services that are environmentally sustainable, cost-effective, and responsive to residents’ needs.
We want your views to help shape how we:
- Prevent and reduce waste
- Reuse valuable resources
- Recycle more effectively
- Manage our waste facilities and services
Why this strategy matters
Managing waste across the re3 area costs around £32 million per year, with an average cost of £150 per household. At present, as much as 55% of what residents throw into their general waste bins and 86% of what’s treated as non-recyclable at re3 Recycling Centres could, in fact, be recycled through the services already available. Improving how we manage waste can help protect the environment and save money for other vital local services.
Key objectives
- Recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035.
- Eliminate biodegradable waste to landfill by 2028.
- Maintain 70% recycling/reuse rate at re3 Recycling Centres.
- Support net zero ambitions and low-carbon technologies.
To read more information about the strategy, check phase 1 of the consultation below.
Your feedback will help us shape services that work for you and your community. The consultation questions are grouped and designed to gather your views on how we can improve waste and recycling across the re3 area.
The consultation closes on 14th December 2025.
Please contact re3info@reading.gov.uk if you have any questions.
Phases
Results & outcome
The strategy reflects both national requirements and the priorities expressed by residents through the 2025 public consultation.
The final strategy was endorsed by the re3 Joint Waste Disposal Board on 11th June 2026.
re3 Strategy 2026–2031 - how the results have been used
The re3 Strategy 2026–2031 sets out a shared vision for how the waste and recycling service across Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham will develop over the next five years. It responds to national policy reforms, financial pressures and the priorities expressed by residents during the public consultation undertaken between November and December 2025.
The consultation attracted responses from 3,466 residents and demonstrated strong support for recycling, waste reduction and reuse. Residents told us they want services that are simpler, more convenient and more consistent, with clearer information about how to recycle correctly, improved opportunities for reuse, and continued access to high‑performing Recycling Centres.
The re3 Strategy 2026–2031 is structured around three inter‑related themes:
- Waste Prevention, Recycling and the Circular Economy
- Our Facilities and Service Delivery
- Stakeholder Engagement and the Future of Services
These themes reflect the waste hierarchy, national policy direction and the issues raised by residents during consultation. They also provide a clear framework for balancing environmental ambition, service quality and long‑term affordability.
Residents told us that reducing landfill, increasing recycling and reuse, keeping services easy to use and understanding why changes are needed are all important. The themes and objectives within the Strategy are designed to respond directly to those priorities.
Theme 1 focuses on Waste Prevention, Recycling and the Circular Economy, reflecting residents’ strong commitment to reducing waste and making better use of resources. Consultation feedback shows that residents are highly motivated to recycle and reuse. However, the waste composition suggests a high volume of recyclable waste disposed of in a wrong bin and that contamination levels remain between 15–25%. Alongside this, residents expressed strong support for reuse initiatives, repair opportunities and doorstep collections of reusable goods.
In response, this Theme establishes three related objectives: A) Promoting waste prevention and increasing reuse; B) Increasing recycling and making it easier for residents; and C) Supporting the transition towards a circular economy while increasing social value. Together, these objectives seek to close the gap between residents’ positive intentions and actual recycling outcomes.
Delivery under Theme 1 will focus on improving recycling quality through clearer communication, accessible digital guidance and education, alongside the expansion of reuse opportunities through a combination of permanent and pop‑up reuse provision. The partnership will also work with third‑party organisations to promote doorstep reuse collections for suitable materials.
Theme 2 focuses on Our Facilities and Service Delivery, recognising the central role that re3’s waste management infrastructure plays in delivering high‑quality services across the partnership area. Consultation feedback confirmed that Recycling Centres are highly valued, with over 93% of respondents reporting that they used a site in the previous year. While residents are protective of access to these facilities, there is measured openness to change where convenience is preserved, and the benefits are clearly understood.
In response, Theme 2 establishes two core objectives: 1) Maintaining high‑performing and compliant recycling infrastructure, and 2) Optimising Recycling Centre performance and efficiency. Together, these objectives aim to ensure that facilities remain resilient and compliant in the context of legislative change, while continuing to deliver strong environmental outcomes and good levels of resident satisfaction.
Delivery under Theme 2 will focus on improving infrastructure, such as the Material Recycling Facility, to manage plastic film, improving capture of recyclable materials at Recycling Centres and introducing changes to the operational hours to seek efficiencies through evidence‑led approaches.
Theme 3 addresses Stakeholder Engagement and the Future of Services, reflecting the importance residents place on clear communication, transparency and long‑term planning. Consultation responses highlighted a desire for more consistent information about recycling services and support for the partnership working.
This Theme is supported by two objectives: A) Strengthening collaboration, communication and transparency, and B) Planning for future infrastructure and legislative compliance. These objectives recognise that achieving high recycling performance requires not only effective infrastructure but also informed and engaged residents and partners.
Delivery under Theme 3 will focus on improving behaviour‑focused communications, strengthening partnership working where clear environmental or financial benefits are identified, and ensuring the partnership is well prepared for post‑2031 contract and infrastructure decisions.