Residents in a part of Wales could face big changes to their bin collections
Reduced collections are 'an option within our sustainable resource strategy,' a senior councillor in Powys has said
Generic image of black wheelie bins
(Image: Darren Quinton/Reach )
People living in a part of Wales could be facing big changes to their bin collection under new council plans. Residents in Powys have been consulted on general waste collections being changed from three-weekly to monthly.
While the changes are not certain to be implemented, a senior Powys councillor has said the change is an "option". The council held a three-month public consultation on how waste should be dealt with in Powys for the next five years and fewer than 200 people gave their views to the council.
One of the questions was about a potential move to monthly black bin collections. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here .
Of the 193 people surveyed, 121 said they would be able to 'cope' with this change.
The consultation prompted Reform councillor Karl Lewis (for Llandinam with Dolfor) to ask: 'Does the Liberal Democrat-led administration intend to implement an increase in residual waste collection times from three weeks to four weeks at any point between now and the next full council elections in May 2027?"
In response the recycling cabinet member, Lib Dem councillor Jackie Charlton, said: 'There are no current plans to reduce the frequency of residual waste collections although it remains an option within our sustainable resource strategy which is due to be finalised shortly following the engagement exercise, we carried out earlier this year.
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'We are following the Welsh Government's blueprint for waste and recycling with our weekly collections of recycling and food waste and three weekly collections of residual waste.'
The council's research suggested 45% of the waste put into black bins 'could' be recycled.
Moving to a four-week collection cycle could be a consequence of not improving recycling rates, said Ms Charlton.
'If all residents were to use the kerbside collection service that we provide to maximise their recycling there would be no requirement to reduce the frequency or capacity of residual collections," she added.
'But there may be a requirement to take other measures if we are to achieve and maintain the Welsh Government's statutory recycling targets.'
If the council fails to hit the 70% recycling target that came into force last year, it could be fined by the Welsh Government.
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Powys's current figure is 68%, up from 66% two years ago. The potential fine for failing to hit target works out at around £100,000 for every percentage point it is missed by.
The council has said it will be 'increasing awareness and education' to encourage those who don't recycle enough to do so.
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