COMMUNITY recycling centres across Bridgend look set to be closed for one day a week later this year, as part of the council’s savings requirement in the medium term financial strategy for 2023-24.
The plans, which would be implemented across the borough’s three recycling centres in Maesteg, Brynmenin, and Tythegston, could come in later this year, following a 12 week public consultation that was approved by council bosses at a cabinet meeting last week.
Council bosses said the reduction in service would be carried out in order to save around £50,000 a year from the local authority’s annual budget, which was approved by members in March of 2023.
While the closures have already been agreed to as part of savings measures, the council will now seek feedback from residents to find out what days would be best for the closures in order to cause minimal disruption to local people.
It was also noted in the report that any closures would likely take place during weekdays, with weekends remaining unchanged due to the high volumes of use on those busier days.
The report read: “Sites are currently operated 7 days a week, Monday – Sunday. Following consultation, if it is decided that CRC sites should close one weekday per week, officers will work with the current Contractor Kier to ensure that the days chosen will cause minimal disruption to the public. Weekends would not be selected for closure as these are busier days.
Council leader Huw David said: “I think it’s important that the public know that weekends would not be selected because of how busy the community recycling centres are, and our current thinking is that we close the community recycling centres on different days so that on any one day of the week at least two of our community recycling centres will be open.”
The statutory consultation period, along with an on-line survey, will be available on the Bridgend County Borough Council website. It will begin later this month and continue for around 12 weeks.
