Residents invited to have their say on the future of recycling bring bank sites
Residents are being invited to share their views on the future of recycling bring banks across the Forest of Dean.
Forest of Dean District Council has launched a six-week consultation on options for the future of the service, which provides recycling facilities for materials such as glass and cardboard at locations across the district. The review follows significant changes in how residents recycle.
Over recent years, the range of materials collected through the council's kerbside recycling service has increased, meaning many items that once needed to be taken to a bring bank can now be recycled from home.
No decisions have been made, and feedback from residents will help inform a future Cabinet decision.
Recycling bring banks are public recycling points for specific materials and are operated by Forest of Dean District Council. They are separate from Household Recycling Centres. This consultation does not include Oak Quarry Household Recycling Centre, which is operated by Gloucestershire County Council.
The council currently spends around £134,000 a year operating the bring bank service, equivalent to around £3.24 per household each year. The consultation seeks views on a range of options, from maintaining a reduced network of bring banks at key locations to removing council-operated bring banks altogether.
Under all options, residents would continue to be able to recycle glass bottles and jars, paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, food tins and drinks cans through the council's kerbside recycling service. Textiles are also collected from the kerbside, while small electrical items and household batteries can be recycled on refuse collection days. Household Recycling Centres would also remain available for larger quantities of recycling and materials that cannot be collected at the kerbside.
The council regularly deals with issues at bring bank sites, including overflowing cardboard banks, littering, fly-tipping and the misuse of facilities by businesses disposing of commercial waste. These issues often require additional maintenance and clear-up work, creating extra costs and affecting residents' experience when using the facilities.
Councillor Andy Moore, Cabinet Member for Recycling and Waste, said:
"Many residents now recycle more materials from home than ever before, thanks to the expansion of the council's kerbside recycling service.
"We're asking residents to have their say before any decisions are made, so that Cabinet can consider local views alongside service usage, costs and future recycling needs.
"Whether you use bring banks regularly, occasionally or not at all, we'd encourage you to take part in the consultation and tell us what matters most to you."
Any savings generated through changes to the service could be used to support other council priorities and future improvements to recycling services.
The consultation runs until the 15 November 2026.
Residents can take part online at: https://fdean.gov.uk/recyclingbankconsultation
Paper copies are available on request.
Following the consultation, responses will be reviewed and considered by Cabinet before any final decision is made. If approved, any changes would not be introduced before summer 2027.