The strategy set the council’s long-term plan to reach recycling and decarbonisation targets set by the Welsh government.
It includes a £24.8 million investment of funding from the council and an additional £27.6 million contribution from Welsh government. The council said the funding will go towards the development of a new recycling facility, the transition to ultra-low emission vehicles and the further infrastructure to deliver the changes.
The strategy has six core objectives:
- Reduce overall waste arisings.
- Increase repair and reuse initiatives.
- Boost the proportion and quality of recycled material.
- Enhance the use of renewable energy.
- Support residents in managing their waste more sustainably.
- Target the way waste outside the home is dealt with (including street cleanliness).
Following a cabinet meeting on the 18 September, a range of additional recommendations were approved this month to address concerns raised by the community during the consultation process.
Additions include extending garden waste collections further into 2024 to offset the reduction in collections and further support for larger families and the elderly.
Councillor Chris Morgan, cabinet member for waste, leisure and green spaces, commented: “We are thrilled to move forward with our new waste strategy, which has taken onboard valuable feedback from residents, as we continue to work towards exceeding our Welsh government statutory recycling targets.
“The strategy outlines how [the council] aims to not only reach but exceed future statutory targets through different measures that will both increase recycling rates and decrease overall waste output.
“The financial asks outlined within the strategy is necessary. These include a combined spend of [council] funding, Welsh government funding and borrowing that will ultimately contribute to future proofing the councils Waste and Recycling Services for residents.”
The full agenda from the meeting can be found here.
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