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By next Spring, the Welsh Government’s recycling target rises to 70% as it seeks to achieve zero waste by 2050 with heavy fines for those councils falling short - Neath Port Talbot’s current recycling rate stands at around 68%.

At the same time, Neath Port Talbot Council is striving to deliver a balanced budget in 2025/26 meaning all services have been asked to identify a 5% financial saving for next year – this equates to a budget cut of £739,000 for Waste and Recycling Services.

So at their meeting on November 13th, 2024, members of the council’s Cabinet were asked to consider options to cut costs and boost recycling including a move to three weekly collections of residual (black bag) waste.

Other options included introducing a charge for non-statutory garden waste collections and consulting on no longer providing black bags (in common with most other Welsh councils) and ceasing the use of wheeled bins in collection rounds.

These options were all rejected.

Cllr Scott Jones, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene, said: “About 18 months ago we agreed to consult on implementing three weekly waste collections as part of our waste strategy given that this is a strategy increasingly being adopted across Wales to boost recycling rates. At that time we consulted with our residents over three weekly collections and a proposal to charge for green waste.

“I also chaired several member meetings and met the scrutiny committee to gather views on these proposals.

“I’m confident as a council we can meet the 70% Welsh Government recycling target as our recycling performance has been improving and I thank our refuse and recycling departments for their efforts in this area. However, I believe that moving forward we still have significant work ahead in promoting and encouraging residents to recycle – particularly food waste.

“Regarding green waste collection charges, I am not convinced there will be enough interest from residents in this chargeable service which some may see as an additional tax. It could even result in a cut in green waste being counted towards out recycling targets if some residents choose not to use a paid service.

“I’m aware a significant majority of residents who responded to consultation have expressed their views on the three weekly collection and green waste collection charge proposals and acknowledge we have much work ahead not only to improve our recycling targets but also to enhance the quality of service we deliver. I look forward to collaborating with officers on this.

“Also, I do not believe it is appropriate or environmentally friendly to leave pet waste in a wheelie bin or refuse bag for three weeks. This will inevitably place more pressure on our already overstretched environmental health and pest control departments.

“We are listening to the public – taking into consideration the concerns raised by the public during consultation as well as those from the scrutiny and wider council membership.

“I’m not convinced moving to three weekly collections or implementing a green waste collection charge is the right approach at this time.”

The following proposed recycling changes were approved by the Cabinet - the combining of paper and card kerbside collections and the introduction of small electrical item kerbside collections, plus an updated Missed Collections Policy and a ‘No Side Waste’ Policy with a further review after the implementation of an ‘in-cab live feed system’ to be implemented for collection teams. Details can be seen in the report here: Improving Recycling Performance and Budget Delivery Report.pdf