03/28/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

Residents’ suggestions to increase recycling rates put into action

RESIDENTS in Carmarthenshire are helping to shape the future of the council’s recycling service.

A consultation exercise was carried out earlier this year asking for householders’ feedback on the service and how it can be improved to increase recycling rates.

Some 86% of respondents supported a reduction in the number of black bags that can be put out for collection; and of those 64% thought black bags should be limited to three per household.

A total of 64% of residents who said they did not recycle their food waste said they would be more likely to do so if they were provided with food bin liners; and 98% of people who don’t recycle glass said they would if it was collected.

Almost half of respondents – 46% – agreed enforcement action should be taken against non-recyclers.

Now a number of these suggestions are being put into action.

From October 7, the maximum number of black bags that will be collected from households will change from four to three.

Households across the county will also receive food bin liners for the first time to encourage more people to recycle their food waste. The food bin liners will be delivered along with the blue bags.

The recycling team is also looking at what materials are currently collected from homes and whether glass or nappy collections could be introduced in the future.

Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said: “I would like to thank residents for their feedback and also for all their efforts to recycle.

“It is important we increase our recycling rates and we believe these new changes which come in in October will help us to achieve this.

“We will also be looking at what else we can do to help people recycle even more.”

The council is currently recycling around 58% of its rubbish but needs to achieve a figure of 64% by the end of the financial year or faces a hefty fine.

Figures show that almost half of all black bag waste put out for collection is recyclable – and as much as a quarter of it is food waste.

The introduction of food bin liners together with the black bag restriction could increase the county’s overall recycling rate by 3.3%.

Designated black bag sorting areas will also be introduced at the county’s recycling centres from October 7 in a bid to increase recycling rates even further.

Householders needing a brown kitchen caddy or green food bin can pick one up from their nearest Hwb or request one online carmarthenshire.gov.wales/recycling

Recycling consultation from Cyngor Sir Gâr | Carms Council on Vimeo.