Councillors in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Call for Reconsideration of Waste Collection Changes

Changes to how waste is collected in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) have been “called in” by councillors in a bid for decision makers to reconsider them.
The call in relates to a recent cabinet decision for all residents to present their refuse for collection in black bags rather than wheelie bins, to move to three weekly collections for trade refuse collections and to adjust the current winter green waste booking service.
On July 17,  cabinet approved the changes to waste collection services which included standardising the collection method of residual household waste in the Cynon and Taf areas, in line with the method of the Rhondda, moving from wheelie bin collections to kerbside collections of standard size black bags only.
As part of these proposals, residents will have the option to keep their wheelie bins to store residual waste bags, with a maximum of three black bags to be placed out for collection at the kerbside every three weeks, as per the current allowance.
Cabinet also decided to change the frequency of refuse collections from premises that fall under the Workplace Recycling Regulations 2024 such as schools and commercial premises across Rhondda Cynon Taf to a three weekly collection cycle.
And they decided to adjust the current winter green waste booking service to
improve operational efficiency as well as keeping the council’s waste management strategy under review.
But three councillors have requested to call the matter in for discussion by a council committee in a bid for cabinet to consider the proposals again.
Councillors Karen Morgan (Plaid Cymru), Karl Johnson (Conservative) and David Evans (independent) have signed the call in and the reasons include that there is a need to further consider the negative impact of the decision for the residents of Cynon Valley and Taf Ely.
They also say that there is a need to consider the negative impact of the decision for RCT waste collection crews and that there is a need to further consider the environmental impact of the decision on the Cynon Valley and Taf Ely.
The councillors say there is a need to scrutinise a cost benefit analysis to inform the decision making and that the decision to proceed was taken without prior consultation with residents and without prior consultation with premises that fall under the Workplace Recycling Regulations 2024.
A special overview and scrutiny committee will consider the call in at a meeting on Monday, July 29.
If the proposal to refer the matter back for reconsideration is passed then the
matter will be referred back to the decision maker, which is the cabinet.
If the proposal is lost then the decision will take effect from the end of the meeting. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​