Recycling scheme rolls out in Carm's

Carmarthenshire's green bin/blue bag scheme is being rolled out to another 10,000 homes in November.

Householders will be issued with a green bin (and kitchen caddie) for their food waste and blue bags for recycling paper, cardboard, cans and plastic.

The green bins will be collected weekly, with blue bags and black bags collected on alternate weeks.

Residents in Llanelli, Burry Port and the Gwendraeth Valley are included in the rollout which starts on the week beginning November 23.

This will bring the total number of households in Carmarthenshire to benefit from kerbside recycling up to 75,000.

Launched in February 2007, the green bin/blue bag scheme has been a big success, as figures show.

Last year the county recycled/composted 34 per cent of its waste – a seven per cent increase on the previous year – which means Carmarthenshire is well on its way to achieving its 40 per cent target by 2010.

The county has also reduced the amount of waste it sends to landfill. The Welsh Assembly Government’s Landfill Allowances Scheme (LAS) limits the amount of biodegradable waste – such as paper, cardboard, kitchen scraps and garden cuttings – councils can send to landfill to encourage recycling and composting.

Last year a total of 29,625 tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste went to landfill – well under Carmarthenshire’s allowance of 40,398 tonnes and a reduction of 28 per cent on the previous year.

Director of technical services Richard Workman said: "The response from residents to the green bin/blue bag scheme has been extremely positive, in fact the figures speak for themselves. We just need to make sure we keep up the good work and continue to recycle as much of our waste as possible."

Executive board member for the environment Councillor Haydn Jones added: "I am delighted another 10,000 residents are to benefit from kerbside recycling, if we all do our bit we can make a difference.

"It is vital we increase our recycling rate and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, failure to do so could result in hefty penalties which would hit taxpayers in the pocket. We must all make an effort to reduce, reuse and recycle."

Areas included in the November rollout: Morfa; Glanymor/Tyisha; Pwll; Felinfoel; Cefncaeau; Llangennech; Hendy; Bynea; Bancffosfelen; Mynyddygarreg; Kidwelly; Pontyates; Ponthenri; Pontyberem; Pembrey, Burry Port; Pinged; Tumble, Llannon.