‘BLACK BAG’ waste collections in Ceredigion will be limited to just three bags every three weeks from April.
Black bags non-recyclable waste collection changes were part of an extensive list of 70 cost savings for the 2024 budget, the change listed as a potential £25,000 saving.
However, residents will also be unable to take unsorted ‘black bags’ into all of the county’s Household Waste Sites.
A statement from Ceredigion County Council says it has been one of the highest performing local authorities for recycling for a number of years but increasing Welsh Government recycling targets and the need to reduce costs mean that changes need be made to increase recycling further.
It also says: “’No unsorted waste’ policies are in place elsewhere; this means that residents wanting to take residual waste into a household waste site are asked to sort through their waste and recycle anything that’s recyclable.
“This is being implemented at the site on the Glanyrafon Industrial Estate, Aberystwyth from January 20. Residents are advised to sort their waste at home before they visit any of Ceredigion’s Household Waste Sites.
“The changes are designed to help incentivise residents to recycle more of their waste and help the county increase its recycling further.”
Councillor Keith Henson, Cabinet Member for Highways and Environmental Services and Carbon Management said: “Despite the fantastic progress we’ve made over the years, through the recycling efforts by Ceredigion residents, there is still over half of the waste in ‘black bags’ collected in Ceredigion that could have been recycled.
“This is a waste of natural resources and a cost to us all as residents. Change is never easy. I know that we all care about Ceredigion, and I know that our residents will understand the need for change. Reduce, reuse and recycle.”
Ceredigion is calling on more residents to use its weekly separate food waste collection service which already collects around 3,400 tonnes of food waste each year which is recycled to produce a fertiliser and renewable energy, but the council is focusing on trying to capture some 1,500 tonnes of food waste thought to end up in residents’ black bags annually.