PLANS to close recycling centres across Bridgend for one day a week are set to come in to effect this month.
The closure of the borough’s three recycling centres for one day per week was decided as part of Bridgend council’s budget plans for 2023-24, with hopes that it could potentially save the local authority as much as £50,000 per year.
The new opening hours for the recycling centres will start from Tuesday February, 6, and will be carried out despite opposition from residents, which was revealed by a public consultation held in 2023.
When responding to the question: “Do you feel the proposal to close the CRC sites one day a week should be agreed?” 56% of residents stated no and 44% stated yes.
A Bridgend council spokesperson said: “The closure days have been staggered so that a minimum of two sites always remain available to the public, and after studying footfall at each site, the least busy days were earmarked for closure.
“The move is expected to save £50,000 and has been developed to help the council meet an urgent need to reduce its waste services budget as part of the 2023-24 medium-term financial strategy.”
The closures come after budget proposals for the 2024-25 budget which include potential plans to close the sites for an extra day each week on the weekend – however the plans do aknowledge that a second day of closure could result in “a detrimental impact” on the environment with “more visible waste, fly tipping and unacceptable queues at remaining facilities.”
The proposal also comes just months after frustrations were raised by opposition members of the council after delays of almost three years in the opening of a £2.3m recycling centre, at Village Farm Industrial Estate in Pyle.
The closure of the three Bridgend sites will now begin on February 6 and will take place as follows:
Tythegston – closed on Tuesdays
Brynmenyn – closed on Wednesdays
Maesteg – closed on Thursdays
