With the UK Government having announced last week its simpler recycling plan, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to follow suit.
Raising the matter in today’s Business Statement, Darren referred to Denbighshire County Council which currently still has a co-mingled system, highlighting that its recycling rates are higher than other local authorities in Wales where waste is separated at the kerbside.
The council will be moving to a kerbside system from June 1st, a move that Darren has strongly opposed.
On Thursday, The Environment Department (Defra) announced new rules for households and workplaces in England, which will enable people to put plastic, metal, glass, paper and card in one bin.
Defra said the new measures will mean households no longer have to check which materials their specific council will accept for recycling, and will also reduce complexity for waste collectors and boost recycling rates.
Calling on the Welsh Government to follow their lead and adopt this simpler system, Darren said:
“Can I call for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for climate change, please, in order that we can receive an update on the Welsh Government's approach to recycling?
“You'll be aware that the UK Government announced last week its simpler recycling plan, which will enable local authorities and others to take a different approach to recycling, which enables all of the dry recyclables to be co-mingled.
“Now, this is something that happens still in Denbighshire where all of the dry recyclables can go into one bin. It's very simple, it's easy for the public to understand, and it stops all of the bin clutter that we see outside many people's homes, on many streets, and particularly in areas where you've got high densities of population in flats. In addition to that, the UK Government is extending the opportunity for businesses to follow suit.
“Denbighshire had recycling rates—using the co-mingled system—of 66 per cent in the year 2022-23. That's higher than Gwynedd, Ynys Môn, Wrexham, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil and a whole host of other local authorities that are requiring residents to separate their recycling at the kerbside. So, will the Welsh Government consider trying to simplify the recycling system across Wales, so that homes and businesses can co-mingle their dry recyclable waste, still achieve very high recycling rates across the country, but in a much simpler way?”
In her response, the Trefnydd, insisted that the approach in Wales is working “extremely well”.
Speaking after the meeting, Darren said:
“Recycling rates may well be good in Wales but that is not because of kerbside recycling, as the figures for Denbighshire with a co-mingled system compared to other local authorities which operate a kerbside recycling system clearly show.
“In Denbighshire, the current systems works well, yet next month, at great expense to local taxpayers, a new system will be introduced, which will reduce the frequency of bin collections, is unlikely to improve recycling rates, and will lead to problems with odours, litter, fly-tipping and pests which will inevitably cost Denbighshire County Council more.
“I urge the Welsh Government to seriously consider following the UK Government’s lead and adopt this simpler approach, which will make life easier for local residents and allow savings to be invested in other services such as schools and libraries.”
