Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has described changes to the Welsh Government’s workplace recycling regulations as “overburdensome” and called on Ministers to consider exemptions or alternative arrangements for those that are already “doing their best to recycle”.

Calling for an update on the Welsh Government's workplace recycling regulations in this week’s Business Statement, Darren told the Minister he has been contacted by a number of constituents who are concerned about the impact of the regulations on their businesses.

He said:

“We all know that changes are afoot for business in the next few months, but I've been contacted by holiday parks and visitor attractions in my own constituency who've expressed concerns about the impact of the regulations on their businesses.

“The new requirements will mean that businesses are having to do some sorting of waste on site and the existing recycling infrastructure that many of them have invested in will become redundant, with lots of investment required in new infrastructure. Not all businesses are able to monitor absolutely everything that visitors put into their waste receptacles. That means that many of them at the moment use contractors to sort their waste for them in order that they can achieve high recycling rates.

“I wonder what engagement the industry has had with the Minister and whether there may be an opportunity to have some exemptions or alternative arrangements for those organisations that are doing their best to recycle and are already achieving very high recycling rates, but just via a different route than this requirement, which does seem overburdensome.”

In her response, the Trefnydd and Minister for North Wales, Lesley Griffiths MS, described the changes as “a great step forward” and insisted there has been “extensive engagement” with businesses.  

Speaking after the meeting, Darren said:

“Businesses in Clwyd West have genuine concerns regarding these changes and it is a shame that the Minister refused to acknowledge these in her response.”