Have your say on the future of recycling bring banks in the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean District Council is inviting residents to share their views on the future of recycling bring banks across the district.
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.
As a result, the council is reviewing the bring bank service and wants to hear residents' views before any decisions are made.
What are recycling bring banks?
Recycling bring banks are public recycling points for specific materials located at sites across the Forest of Dean.
They are separate from Household Recycling Centres. This consultation does not include Oak Quarry Household Recycling Centre.
Why is the council reviewing the service?
The review follows significant changes in how residents recycle. Many materials that were previously recycled through bring banks can now be collected through the council's kerbside recycling service.
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.
No decisions have been made and residents' feedback will help inform a future Cabinet decision.
What recycling services would continue?
Under all options, residents would continue to be able to recycle the following materials through the council's kerbside recycling service:
- Glass bottles and jars
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastic bottles
- Food tins and drinks cans
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 remain available for larger quantities of recycling and materials that cannot be collected at the kerbside.
Issues experienced at bring bank sites
The council regularly deals with issues at bring bank sites, including:
- Overflowing cardboard banks
- Littering
- Fly-tipping
- 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.
Take part in the consultation
Complete the survey herePaper copies are available on request.
What happens next?
The consultation runs until 15 November 2026.
Once the consultation closes, 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.