Recycling Rates In Carmarthenshire Reach 64%

Recycling rates in Carmarthenshire have soared to their highest ever level. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Provisional figures released for 2015/16 show we are recycling approximately 64% of our rubbish here in Carmarthenshire, way over the 58% target set by Welsh Government for local authorities, and a four per cent increase on the previous year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The all Wales recycling figure is 60%. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Statistics for Wales report show the combined reuse, recycling and composting rates for all local authorities in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said: “Recycling rates in Carmarthenshire are continuing to rise and I am delighted that we have not only met but very much exceeded the target set by Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to thank and congratulate residents for all their efforts. We have come a long way since 2003 when we were recycling just 9.4% of our rubbish, and we could not have achieved this figure without the co-operation of householders.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council is taking delivery of a new fleet of refuse collection vehicles in the autumn. Costing approximately £4million, it includes 28 new vehicles, and the majority will have a separate pod at the front to keep food waste separate from blue / black bags. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Collection routes across the county will also be changing which means some households could be affected by a change in collection day or blue / black bag week. Those affected will be notified by post in October. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The aim is to provide a more efficient service to the public and also help us to increase our recycling rates further. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Evans added: “A large number of households will be affected by changes to their bin collections, however, we will do our best to keep disruption to a minimum as much as possible. The good news is that the new vehicles, together with the new collection routes, will result in a much improved service for residents and help us recycle even more to assist us to achieve the 70% recycling target by 2024/25.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You can check if your collection day / week is changing by visiting i-Local and click on My House. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​