‘Significant improvement’ in recycling seen since Carmarthenshire waste collection changes

When comparing January and February 2023 to the previous year, there has been an 886-tonne reduction in black bag waste collected at the kerbside. 

Whilst the amount of waste destined for disposal has reduced drastically, an extra 148 tonnes of nappy waste, 282 tonnes of blue bags – dry recycling, and 93 tonnes of food waste have been collected for recycling by the authority.

The Council say they have also collected 388 tonnes of glass from the kerbside.

On 23 January 2023, Carmarthenshire County Council changed its waste and recycling collection service.

The changes saw blue bags, for dry recycling now collected every week, alongside the green bin for food waste.

Black bags, for remaining household waste that cannot be recycled, are now collected every three weeks, with residents also seeing changes to their collection dates.

Carmarthenshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services, Cllr. Edward Thomas said: “I would like to say a big thank you to all our residents for coming with us on this journey to improve the county’s recycling performance.”

“In the six weeks since we’ve improved our recycling services, we have recycled more nappies, more food waste and more dry recyclable waste. In total, we have recycled an extra 523 tonnes and prevented 886 tonnes of waste from going to disposal.

“In addition to this, since we started to collect glass from people’s homes in late January, we have collected 388 tonnes of glass, which is the energy saving equivalent to power a hospital for ten days.

“The changes over the past six weeks have been challenging and I would like to thank those residents that have been patient with us whilst we have adjusted our service to them.

“As I have said previously, this is a step in the right direction to improve the wellbeing of Carmarthenshire, its residents and its future generations.”