Problem
In 2019, Newport City Council took a significant step to increase its recycling rate by replacing residents’ 180L non-recyclable waste bins with smaller 120L bins, whilst maintaining fortnightly collections. This change led to a 7.6%-point increase in its recycling rate to 67.2% in 2020/21. However, by 2022/23, Newport’s recycling rate had dropped back down to 65.2%, highlighting the need for further action to help achieve Welsh Government's statutory target of 70% recycling by 2025.
In 2022, the Council conducted a residual waste analysis. This revealed that despite achieving a recycling rate of around 67%, progress had plateaued. A significant amount of recyclable material was still ending up in the bin for non-recyclable waste. The study found that:
- Over 24% of the waste in non-recyclable waste bins comprised food.
- 14% of the waste in non-recyclable waste bins comprised dry recyclables.
This waste could have been collected through existing kerbside recycling services.
In April 2023, the Council collaborated with its recycling partner Wastesavers to implement a series of enhancements to household recycling collection services. These improvements streamlined collections and created more space for recycling. Key changes included:
- Introducing a 90L reusable blue bag for paper and cardboard, replacing one of the previous 55L boxes.
- Separating the presentation of glass and small electrical items (sWEEE) to enhance safety for collection crews, who previously had to manually sort materials from boxes.
- Continuing its existing food waste and textile collections without changes.
Following these changes, the Council started to explore ways to further reduce residual waste and increase its recycling rate.
Solution
Newport City Council decided to adjust the frequency of non-recyclable waste collections and expand its community engagement efforts.
Firstly, a three-weekly non-recyclable waste collections service was introduced, starting in June 2023. This decision followed a detailed modelling exercise that quantified the expected impact of both three-weekly and four-weekly collection cycles. The new three-weekly schedule reduced residual waste capacity for each household to 40L per week, whilst retaining the existing 120L bin.
A targeted education and enforcement strategy was implemented to support residents in adapting to these changes. This work included:
- A team of four engagement officers providing door-to-door tailored advice on waste reduction and recycling.
- Visits to households requesting larger bins to ensure eligibility and reinforce proper waste separation.
- Implementation of a strict ‘no side waste’ policy to tackle overfilled bins.
- Application of a three-strike bin tagging system for incorrectly presented non-recyclable waste bins, resulting in warning labels and, in some cases, enforcement action.
The Council rolled out the changes as a phased implementation across the county. The first phase, implemented in June 2023, included 12,000 households. The rest of the city followed in October/November 2023. This phased approach allowed for insights and lessons learned to inform the citywide rollout.
Impact
The measures introduced in Newport have yielded strong environmental and financial benefits:
- 25% reduction in kerbside waste: Kerbside non-recyclable waste from households dropped from 19,859 tonnes in 2022/23, to 14,832 tonnes during the 2024 calendar year.
- Higher recycling capture: Over the same period, the amount of dry recycling within the non-recyclable waste bin decreased by 30%, and food waste was reduced by 17%, reflecting better waste separation at source.
- Increased food waste capture: Food waste collection rose by 7%, with an estimated 62% of food waste now being properly recycled, compared to 55% previously.
- Positive behavioural changes observed: Less than 1% of cases have resulted in full enforcement action, demonstrating strong resident compliance and adaptation to the new system.
- Cost and environmental benefits: The changes saved £160,000 in 2023/24, and a further £160,000 savings are projected for 2024/25. Additionally, emission reductions were achieved through the removal of 2.5 diesel Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) and the introduction of two electric Resource Recovery Vehicle (RRVs).
Newport City Council’s strategy has shown that reducing non-recyclable waste capacity whilst improving recycling is key to increasing recycling rates. Education and direct engagement have been crucial, with enforcement only needed in a small number of cases. Continued communication and resident support will ensure further improvements. With these measures in place, the Council is now on track to meet the 70% recycling target, providing a model for other local authorities.