Council sees fall in number of black bags for collection

THE number of black rubbish bags being collected in the Vale of Glamorgan has gone down by a third since a two bags per fortnight rule was implemented by the council.

Since September, Vale of Glamorgan Council has been collecting just two black bags per home every fortnight.

Users of the Vale’s tips are also having to prove they live in the area, and have their black bags opened to prove they don’t contain recyclable waste.

The council has now revealed the measures have seen the number of black bags drop by 31 per cent.

It has also led to an eight per cent increase in kerbside recycling, and a 19 per cent rise in food waste recycling.

There has also been a 64 per cent reduction in black bag rubbish at Household Waste Recycling Centres due to residents sorting their waste.

Changes to black bag collections were introduced as the council has been given by the Welsh Government to recycle 70 per cent of its waste by 2024/25. Before the changes, the recycling rate in the Vale was 64 per cent.

The black bag limit led to recycling increasing by almost 30 per cent after it’s first month – but in the first week of October it led to the council running one day late for recycling pick-ups.

But councillor Geoff Cox, cabinet member for neighbourhood services and transport, said: “The reduction in black bag waste and increase in recycling so far has exceeded our expectations.

“With such strong public support for our waste and recycling changes, and despite some early collection problems, I am sure we will achieve our recycling targets for 2019/20 and 2024/25.”