Consultation on change to waste service

RESIDENTS of Neath Port Talbot are set to be consulted on potential changes to waste services which the council says are needed in order to meet Welsh Government targets.

Members of the council’s environment, regeneration and steetscene scrutiny committee met earlier this month to discuss draft proposals as well as giving an update on the progress of its Waste Strategy Action Plan.

At the meeting officers highlighted how residents will be asked for feedback on a number of proposals such as the collection of black bin waste every three weeks as well as annual charges for green waste collection. These come after the introduction of the Welsh Government’s latest 70% statutory recycling target, with a council spokesman noting that while the authority currently has a “creditable recycling rate approaching 68%” there is no guarantee that the 70% target would be met.

They said: “Welsh Government targets will only get more challenging in order to achieve zero waste by 2050, therefore further action must be considered to improve recycling rates across the county borough.”

A report held within the draft consultation added that missing these targets could potentially result in huge fines for the council worth around £200 for every tonne the target is missed.

Cllr Scott Jones said: “It is important we hear from as many residents as possible so we can design a recycling collection system that works for people. Measures to encourage more recycling are essential not only for us to avoid damaging fines from the Welsh Government but also for us to have cleaner, better places to live in and for Wales to continue to be one of the best recycling nations on Earth.”