FLINTSHIRE councillors will be discussing new recycling regulations which will come into force from April.
The Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee will meet on Tuesday, December 19 to discuss a change in Welsh Government legislation to improve the quality and quantity of commercial recycling collected and separated.
The change will require all non-domestic premises to separate recyclable materials from all other waste.
This means that all workplaces, such as businesses, public sector, and charities will need to separate their recyclable materials in the same way that households currently do.
A report into the change looks at how the change may potentially impact Flintshire Council services, and opportunities that could come from it.
They currently provide business waste collection service to public buildings, schools, and charities, and all businesses receive a residual waste collection service, which is chargeable, and a recycling collection service, which is free.
It said: “The businesses will have to comply with the new legislation too and adapt to a revised service model and potentially liable for the associated charges.”
On opportunities, it said: “With the introduction of the new legislation, there may be an opportunity to review the provision of recycling services for businesses, such as extending our trade waste collection service on a chargeable basis.
“One other option currently being explored could involve designating a single waste disposal facility (i.e. HRC site) for the receipt of other chargeable recyclable materials (wood, soil, rubble, green waste etc) from businesses.”
The report details that Natural Resources Wales (NRW) will be responsible for making sure that materials are being separated and collected correctly, and that the ban on recycling going to incineration and landfill is being followed.
Local authorities will be responsible for making sure that the ban on food waste going to sewers is followed.
The committee is recommended to note the changing legislation and the potential impact on Council services, and supports the option to explore opportunities to develop nondomestic recycling collections and disposal services.
