Problem
In 2018-19, Carmarthenshire County Council faced a significant challenge as the lowest-performing Welsh local authority for recycling. The county's recycling rate had dropped to 59%, barely surpassing the 2017-18 statutory target of 58%. With Welsh Government's 2019-20 target set at 64%, Carmarthenshire risked financial penalties for underperformance.
Recognising the urgency, the Council sought to implement measures to boost recycling rates, avoid fines, and meet statutory targets. A waste composition analysis of black bags for non-recyclable waste revealed that nearly 50% of the discarded materials were recyclable at the kerbside, highlighting a significant opportunity to reduce residual waste and improve recycling performance.
Solution
In January 2023, Carmarthenshire County Council introduced a series of strategic measures to tackle these challenges:
- Reduced capacity for non-recyclable, residual waste: Households previously allowed to dispose of four black bags of non-recyclable waste every two weeks are now limited to three bags every three weeks.
- Kerbside glass collection: A new glass recycling collections service enables residents to recycle their glass bottles and jars from home, replacing the previous bring bank network.
- Nappy waste collection service: Funded by Welsh Government, this service provides residents with purple bags for nappy waste, collected fortnightly to prevent contamination of residual waste.
- Public engagement and enforcement: Additional Waste Wardens have been deployed to offer tailored advice on waste reduction and recycling, ensuring compliance with the new restrictions and services.
- Investment in electric refuse collection vehicles (RCVs): The Council invested in three electric RCVs, with plans for further expansion to reduce emissions and support sustainability goals.
Impact
The combination of policy changes and infrastructure investments has delivered significant environmental and social benefits:
- Recycling rate increase: The Council’s recycling rate reached 70% in 2023/24, a significant improvement from its previous ranking as the lowest-performing local authority.
- Statutory compliance: The Council successfully achieved the Welsh Government target of 70% recycling ahead of time and is committed to maintaining this record, reinforcing Wales’ status as the second-best recycling nation in the world.
- Carbon savings: The diversion of residual waste from Energy from Waste facilities and the procurement of electric RCVs have contributed to significant carbon reductions.
In 2026, Carmarthenshire County Council plans to introduce separate weekly collections for glass, metals, plastics, cardboard, paper, small electrical items, household batteries, and textiles. Additionally, the frequency of non-recyclable waste collections will also change to every four weeks, further enhancing the Council’s waste management strategy.
By implementing ambitious policies, investing in sustainable waste infrastructure, and driving behavioural change, the Council has successfully transformed its recycling performance and is well-positioned for continued improvement.