Council confirms June start for black bag rule

RUMOURS circulating on social media that an unpopular two blackbag limit have been shelved are completely false, Bridgend council has confirmed.

It said the new rubbish collection scheme designed to boost the recycling rate in the county will start on Monday, June 5.

Since it was announced that the start of what the authority has dubbed a “recycling revolution” had been put back from the original date of April 1, rumours have been circulating that a legal challenge from a failed bidder for the contract had halted the plans and forced a U-turn from the council.

But when giving a report to cabinet members on Tuesday, the council’s director of communities Mark Shephard said: “The new procedures will begin from Monday, June 5, and all residents will receive a full information pack describing the new service in early May.

“More than half of homes will have a change to their collection day from June too, so the pack will also include a new collection calendar.

“The new recycling containers and waste bags will then be delivered towards the end of May.”

The council completed contract negotiations with Kier Services Ltd last month, appointing the firm as the local authority’s waste partner for the next seven years to provide kerbside recycling and waste collections as well as three recycling centres in the county borough.

But, as part of the procurement process, the council also needed to de-brief the other bidding contractors that were considered to have fallen short of the competitive tender requirements.

With the de-briefing process now complete, the council and Kier have decided that a start date of Monday, June 5, will give them enough time to prepare for the new service and publicise it widely to all residents.

Mr Shephard said: “Contrary to some social media speculation, there has not been a legal challenge, nor a threat of one.

“Ourselves and Kier are simply being prudent in allowing sufficient time to sensibly implement the new scheme.”

In 2015-16 Welsh councils were set a recycling target of 58%, but by 2020 it will be 64% and then 70% by 2025.

A target has also been set for zero landfill waste to be generated by Welsh local authorities in 2050.