Have your say on recycling and waste changes

Since we launched a survey on our proposed recycling and waste collection changes, over 1,300 of you have had your say.

Many of you have got involved in the debate; some of you are fully supportive, others see how it will work in principle and others have raised concerns.

We want to work with communities to rise to the challenge and to understand what the barriers are, with a view to addressing those issues before the system is introduced (should it be approved).

The county has historically one of the best recycling rates in Wales and residents have played a significant part in that success. Despite all the efforts, more than 5,000 tonnes of recycling are still being thrown away through general waste collections costing £500,000 which could be spent on protecting vital council services. This is a significant challenge and the Council needs to recycle more and reduce unnecessary disposal costs. That can only be done by changing the way in which its waste collection works and by changing the way residents recycle.

The proposed changes to the recycling service will provide residents with:

• a new weekly collection for recyclables such as paper, glass, cans and plastic
• a weekly collection for food waste
• a new fortnightly collection for clothes and small electrical items

With 64% of waste already being recycled and a weekly recycling collection with extra capacity there should only be small amounts of non-recyclable waste left in the black bin. 

The Council is therefore proposing to change the collection of non-recyclable waste to every four weeks.  Instead of the current 140 litre black bins, the Council would provide new, larger 240 litre black bins instead.

Overall, households will have an additional 35 litres of capacity each week to manage their waste and the focus will be more on recycling to help prevent recyclable material being put unnecessarily in the black bin.  This is better for the environment and will help to protect other important front-line services.

The Council believes that increasing the size of the bins to the new larger ones and introducing weekly and recycling collections, supported by other special collections, should meet the needs of residents.  

The majority of households in Denbighshire can be switched to the proposed system. The households at which the proposed system may be unsuitable are being identified. Where necessary alternative collection models, designed to achieve the highest levels of recycling practicable, will be introduced.

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel, said: “Denbighshire residents have always been very good at recycling, and we achieved the Welsh Government target to recycle 64% of household waste two years early.   Thank you for making a real difference.

“However, we need to reach the next target of 70% by 2025, and there is discussion taking place about higher targets of possibly 80% in future. We therefore need to take steps to recycle more and waste less.   To make sure we develop the right model for Denbighshire, we want to understand more about people’s recycling needs, hear about any potential impacts these proposed changes may have on households and to work with communities to manage the proposed changes.

“We are confident that Denbighshire households will be able to rise to the challenge, but there will be some circumstances where this might be more difficult. Therefore, we are already looking at nappy/ incontinence wear waste collections; additional bins for larger households and continuing with offering assisted collections for those that need them.

“Over the coming weeks, staff from the Council will be out and about in communities, where people will have an opportunity to hear what is being proposed and to speak with officers directly.  This will be supported by a range of education initiatives to support residents in their recycling efforts. We will also engage with local Schools and businesses to reinforce our ambitions to meet the new recycling challenges  Details will appear on the Council’s social media sites, on its website and in the media.

The Council is also encouraging residents to complete an online survey at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recyclemore so that it can understand people’s recycling patterns and what steps need to be taken to prepare people for the proposed changes. Copies of the survey can also be found in libraries and main receptions across the county.

Frequently asked questions and details of opening hours of the recycling parks, together with a full list of what items can be recycled can also be found on the website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recyclemore

The Council would expect that any proposed change would take place in 2020.