News releases

Recycling banks to close to stop anti-social behaviour and cut carbon

A number of recycling banks will close by the end of the year following a decision by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 7 September.

The decision was taken after recycling sites have increasingly been targeted with antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping, causing concern to nearby residents and parish councils. The recent increase in fly-tipping has meant that council staff are visiting the sites more frequently to clear items which have been dumped. Often, these items are not recyclable, such as mattresses and furniture.

The majority of the banks to be removed are used to collect paper, card and glass, all of which can be collected at the kerbside. The council is working with charities to remove their collection bins and will be promoting alternative sites for charity donations.

As well as reducing antisocial behaviour, it is hoped that removing the banks will bring environmental benefits to the borough such as reducing incidents of fly-tipping and a reduction in carbon emissions due to fewer vehicle journeys to the sites.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Recycling and Waste Cllr Hayley Eachus said: “Closing these recycling sites will help to reduce the number of fly-tipping incidents which are unpleasant for nearby residents and do so much damage to our environment.

“Paper, card and glass can all be collected from the kerbside, without the need to make additional journeys to one of these sites. Fewer journeys both by our residents and our contractors means fewer carbon emissions and that will help us towards our target to be a carbon neutral borough by 2030.”

Privately owned recycling sites will continue to be available and Hampshire County Council’s Household Waste and Recycling Centre at Wade Road is also open to residents wishing to dispose of unwanted items not collected at the kerbside. The borough council also runs a bulky waste collection service for large items.

To find out which sites will be closed go to: www.basingstoke.gov.uk/recycling-sites