Important new changes in the way that Bridgend County Borough Council collects rubbish and recycling are set to be introduced following the recent announcement that the authority’s waste management contract has been awarded to May Gurney Ltd.
Starting in June 2010, residents will be able to recycle most of their household rubbish every week, including kitchen food waste, plastics, cans, cardboard, glass, paper and textiles.
The change to a weekly collection of a wider range of recycling is in direct response to feedback from residents who said they wanted to recycle more materials, more often,
With more materials being recycled every week, households will produce less ‘black bag’ rubbish. As a result, the collection of general refuse will take place every two weeks. There will also be separate collections for bulky household items.
To help local residents prepare, each household will receive food waste containers and a sack for cans and plastic items. These will be in addition to the Kerbside Recycling boxes that have already been provided for paper and glass waste.
More information will be made available over the next few months and residents will receive further advice and guidance so they are ready and equipped for when the new procedures begin.
Councillor John Spanswick, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “These changes are among the biggest that Bridgend County Borough Council has ever made to how the area’s waste is handled.
“We have consistently heard feedback from residents who want more recycling initiatives to be introduced. The new procedures reflect the authority’s commitment towards sustainability and complement our involvement in the Glamorgan Gazette’s Go Green initiative, which aims to raise awareness about issues such as climate change, saving energy, recycling and protecting the environment.
“By recycling more items on a weekly basis, there will be less waste going into black bags, so general refuse can be collected every two weeks instead.
“As well as meeting targets and improving the local environment, the new procedures will also save a great deal of money on landfill costs.”
Council Leader Mel Nott added: “Local authorities are facing challenging future targets from the Welsh Assembly Government for recycling waste and diverting it from being disposed of in landfill, so we have to find and adapt new procedures.
“We understand that some people may be concerned about the changes, but ultimately, what we do now to minimise waste and increase recycling will have a drastic effect not only on our own lives, but also on the lives of future generations of Bridgend County Borough Council.
“The new procedures will also benefit local residents by saving money that can be reinvested into other important services.”
