Side Waste Policy To Improve Recycling Performance

Neath Port Talbot households will soon be limited in the number of black bags they can present for collection, as the Council prepares to implement its ‘side waste policy’ to improve recycling performance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The move will bring the county borough into line with the Welsh Government’s ‘Collections Blueprint’ guidance and also many other local authority areas in Wales that limit the amount of general waste per household. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

From June 2016 Neath Port Talbot properties which have wheeled bin collections will be allowed a maximum of one additional black bag. Properties without bins will be allowed to present up to four black bags per fortnightly collection. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The limit will reduce further from Spring 2017 to no additional bags for properties with bin collections and to a maximum of three black bags for properties without bins. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is hoped that this phased introduction will assist households, particularly those that are not already recycling, in getting used to minimising their waste. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There is no limit on the amount of recyclable material which can be put out for collection, however recent analysis has shown that there is still a significant amount of recyclable and compostable waste being presented within general refuse bags and bins. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Neath Port Talbot is performing well and anticipates achieving the 2015/16 Welsh Government target of recycling 58% of its municipal waste (subject to Welsh Government confirmation). However further changes to the county borough’s waste and recycling services are needed to ensure we can meet the increasingly tough targets to come – 64% recycling by 2019/20 and 70% by 2024/25. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Failure to meet these statutory targets could incur fines potentially running into hundreds of thousands of pounds every year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In recognition of the fact that some households may require additional capacity there will be an exemption scheme for households which can demonstrate they produce more non-recyclable waste than the permitted limit, for example for larger families or households presenting large amounts of disposable nappies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Cllr Ali Thomas OBE said: “Neath Port Talbot has made great progress in improving its recycling performance, but recent analysis has shown that we need to make further changes in order to meet future recycling targets, avoid heavy fines and improve the environment.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Council has recently completed the roll out of the second phase of Recycle+, meaning more households than ever can now access the improved recycling service. The third and final phase will be completed by April 2017 and alongside the phased introduction of our side waste policy will help to ensure that Neath Port Talbot is well-placed to meet our future aims.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would also like to thank all the many households across Neath Port Talbot who are doing their bit to reduce, reuse and recycle.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​