Residents to have their say on the future of Swindon’s waste collection and series of drop-in events

The Council is still seeking the views of residents to inform the strategy, which will be presented to the Council’s Cabinet on 5 December. The online survey is due to close on 19 October, but residents will have the chance to give their views on the draft Waste Strategy at a number of upcoming drop-in events.

The strategy will aim to address new government guidelines on recycling and waste reduction, Swindon’s growing population over the next 10 years, as well as the ongoing issues relating to plastics recycling.

The Council’s drive to improve recycling rates is linked to the EU Waste Framework Directive, which sets a legal requirement for the UK to recycle at least 50 per cent of household waste by 2020.

Earlier this year further targets for recycling of 55 per cent by 2025 and 60 per cent by 2030 were introduced and the UK government has indicated these will remain in place after the country has left the EU. 

Swindon’s recycling rate has fallen by 10 per cent over the last five years to 38 per cent and the draft Waste Strategy will set out the high level principles for how the Council will manage the borough’s waste, along with some specific measures to improve the recycling rate over the next 12 months.

The engagement events over the next two weeks will give residents the chance to ask questions and talk to officers about the proposals in the draft Waste Strategy. The events will be held at:

• West Swindon library, Tuesday 9 October, 10am – 1pm
• Highworth Library, Thursday 11 October, 10am – 1pm
• North Swindon Library, Saturday 13 October, 1pm – 4pm
• Park Library, Monday 15 October, 10am – 1pm
• Central Library, Tuesday 16 October, 10am – 1pm

Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and the Environment, Councillor Maureen Penny, said: “The response to the survey so far has been fantastic. It’s great to see residents engaging with us and I hope that more people will fill out the survey before 19 October.

“Lots of people have especially picked up on our proposal to temporarily suspend separate plastic collections and it is providing some interesting debate.

“It is really important that the Council manages waste responsibly in the future, providing residents with a service that does the best for the environment at a low cost to the taxpayer. With the feedback residents provide I believe we will be able to do just that.”