Posted on: Monday 20 March 2023
At least 70 per cent of rubbish must be recycled in Wales by 2025.
Currently, less than 64 per cent of waste is recycled in Torfaen, so the council is proposing several changes to increase recycling and decrease the amount of rubbish thrown away in purple-lidded bins.
Earlier this month, members of the council’s Cleaner Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered a report which recommended reducing the frequency of purple-lidded bin collections.
According to the report, reducing residual waste collections to once every three weeks would increase recycling rates to 66 per cent, with four weekly collections resulting in recycling rates of 68 per cent.
Members were presented with a number of other options for improving recycling rates however these options were either not effective in terms of improving the recycling rate or too expensive.
Residents will now be asked to vote for their preferred choice – three weekly or four weekly purple bin collections – during a six-week consultation period, starting on Monday 27 March.
You will be able to have your say online via our community engagement hub Get Involved Torfaen or at a series of public roadshows from next week.
The service is also consulting directly with Torfaen citizen panels and the five community councils.
The changes planned for March 2024 will be brought in alongside an expansion of the recycling service including:
- Used batteries recycling from April.
- Weekly cardboard and small electrical items collections from this summer.
- Increased recycling support for residents who live in flats.
- Increased trade waste recycling.
- Increased education and information.
Councillor Mandy Owen, Executive Member for the Environment, said: “We understand some residents will have concerns about how they will cope with fewer skinny bin collections, and we will be supporting those residents who need help.
“We also know we need to make improvements to the recycling service as a whole, so we are able to provide a service residents can rely on.
“But the fact of the matter is, no change is not an option. If we fail to meet the Welsh Government’s 70 per cent by 2025 target, we could face fines of up to £100,000 per percentage missed.
“Increasing recycling is a key part of the council’s Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan and our County Plan, because it is better for the climate, the environment and future generations.”
You can read more about the council's County Plan on our website and click yma to read more about the Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan.