Council thanks Carmarthenshire residents as first week of new recycling collections are completed
3 hours ago
Carmarthenshire County Council is thanking residents for their support and patience as the new Separated Recycling service rolls out, helping to improve the quality of recycling collected across the county.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services, Cllr Edward Thomas, said:
Thank you to everyone who has embraced the new collections and shared feedback during this first week. Your support and patience are helping us make this change together. As residents continue to adjust to the new recycling service, our crews have identified a few simple ways residents can help make collections run smoothly and ensuring materials are recycled as efficiently as possible."
Key reminders following the first week of collections
- Understanding the difference between the reusable red SACK and single-use red BAG
One of the most common issues has been between the reusable red sack and the single-use red bag.
The single-use red bags are for soft plastics only, including bread bags, carrier bags, frozen food bags, crisp packets, shrink wrap, pouches and sachets and other flexible packaging. Once full, the tied red bag should be placed inside the reusable red sack for collection.
The reusable red sack is for other recyclable metals, plastics and cartons, including drink cans, food tins, yoghurt pots, cream pots, fruit and vegetable punnets, clean foil trays and cartons. Residents should place these items loosely in the reusable red sack, along with any full single-use red bags of soft plastics.
- Brown paper should go in the reusable orange sack for cardboard
Collection crews have noticed brown paper and parcel packaging being placed in the reusable blue sack for paper.
While these materials can be recycled, they should be placed in the orange sack with cardboard.
The reusable blue sack should only be used for paper such as letters, newspapers, magazines and white envelopes.
Brown paper and parcel packaging are classed as cardboard-grade materials and should be recycled with cardboard. Separating these materials correctly helps improve the quality of recycling and ensures that more materials can be successfully recycled.
- Not all glass belongs in the black box
Residents are reminded that only whole glass bottles and jars (not broken glass) should be placed in their glass recycling box.
Items such as drinking glasses, Pyrex dishes, vases, window glass and broken glass cannot be recycled through the kerbside glass collection service because they are made from different types of glass. These items should be taken to a Recycling Centre, or wrapped safely and placed in your black bag. Wrapping broken glass in newspaper, kitchen roll or double-bagging helps protect collection crews from injury.
- Recycling contamination tags
Residents are reminded to place the correct materials in the correct sack, bag, box or container.
Where incorrect items are found, collection crews may leave a tag or sticker explaining the issue and advising how the recycling should be presented in future. Residents will need to remove the incorrect items and sort the materials correctly before their next scheduled collection. In some cases, recycling containing the wrong materials may not be collected until the issue has been resolved.
This applies to all recycling collections across Carmarthenshire, including areas that remain on the Mixed Recycling (blue bags) recycling service and those that have changed to the new Separated Recycling service.
Placing the right materials in the right container helps reduce contamination, improve the quality of recycling collected and ensures that more materials can be successfully recycled.
- Attach battery sack using the Velcro fastening only
The battery recycling service is already proving popular, but residents are reminded not to tie their battery sack to a recycling sack or fasten it using knots.
Instead, the battery sack should be attached using the Velcro fastening provided.
Battery sacks should never be placed inside other recycling sacks or boxes, as damaged batteries can cause fires if they enter the wrong part of the collection vehicle.
- Missed collections: How to report them
Residents are reminded not to report missed collections before 2pm on their scheduled collection day, as collections can take place at any time between 6am and 2pm.
As crews and residents adjust to the new service, collection rounds may take some time to settle into their new arrangements. Collection crews are working longer hours to complete their rounds and minimise disruption while these changes are embedded. Before reporting a missed collection, residents are asked to check the Council's Waste Disruptions webpage for any service updates or delays.
If no disruption has been reported and recycling or waste has been presented correctly, a missed collection can be reported from 2pm on the scheduled collection day until 4pm on the next working day, either online or by calling 01267 234567.
Residents can read the Council's Recycling and Waste Collection Policy for full details here.
The Council is also reminding residents that homes whose first black bag collection falls during the weeks beginning 9 November or 16 November can present up to four black bags as a one-off allowance to help with the transition to the new service.
From the week beginning 23 November, the standard limit of three black bags per collection will apply.
As the new service rolls out, residents are encouraged to check their collection days and ask for advice if they are unsure where an item should go. To check your collection days, sign up for free email or text reminders and find guidance on the new service, visit the website.
Please share this guidance with family, friends and neighbours who may not regularly go online, to help them get ready for their collections too.
