The re3 Partnership is proud to announce its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter of a century of collaboration between Bracknell Forest, Reading, and Wokingham Borough Councils. Established in 1999, the re3 Partnership has become one of the UK’s longest-standing waste management partnerships, serving nearly 500,000 residents with innovative and environmentally responsible waste solutions.
Over the past 25 years, the re3 Partnership has been instrumental in transforming waste management practices across the three boroughs, reducing household waste, diverting waste from landfills, and significantly increasing recycling rates. This milestone is not only a celebration of longevity but a testament to the partnership’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its role in addressing the climate emergency. By working together, the councils have saved money, enhanced the quality of life for residents, and paved the way for a greener future.
Since 2006, the partnership has been working with FCC Environment, a private contractor. On re3 Council’s behalf, FCC Environment manages and provides first-class facilities for recycling and managing waste. This includes management of the re3 Material Recycling Facility in Reading, two Recycling Centres and Transfer Stations as well as facilitating waste treatment services through energy recovery facilities, food waste recycling and green waste composting site.
Throughout its history, the re3 Partnership has managed a staggering 3.18 million tonnes of waste and successfully recycled over 404,000 tonnes of materials through kerbside collections. One of the most significant recent achievements is the introduction of food waste recycling, which has prevented more than 78,000 tonnes of waste from ending up in landfills or incineration. The partnership has played a crucial role in diverting waste from landfills, with the landfill diversion rate dropping from 62% in 2007 to below 5% in 2024. In addition to household waste management, the re3 Partnership has overseen two Recycling Centres that have seen an estimated 13 million residents’ visits since their opening. The re3 Recycling Centres consistently achieve recycling rates higher than the national average, with a rate of 70% recorded for 2023–2024.
The Partnership remains committed to further improving waste management practices building on their success in reaching the 50% recycling rate target and have reduced their CO2e carbon emissions by 65% since 2016.
The Partnership’s dedication to innovation continues with ongoing projects such as installing the England-first AI-robotic arm at the Material Recycling Facility, the Flex Collect project, the re3grow Community Scheme, and the regular Reuse Pop-Up Shops.
“I am proud and privileged to have been part of this journey,” said Cllr Karen Rowland, Chair of re3 Joint Waste Disposal Board. “The accomplishments of the re3 Partnership over the past 25 years are a true reflection of what can be achieved when councils come together with a shared vision. Congratulations to all our partners and the dedicated staff at re3 for their commitment to tackling the climate emergency in everything they do. Here’s to the next 25 years!”
