Posted on: Friday 19 July 2024
Scrutiny members have given their views on a draft Waste Education and Enforcement Policy.
A report to the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee said the policy would focus on engagement first - helping residents to reduce waste by recycling more.
The committee members made a series of recommendations, which will be reviewed by the service before the draft policy goes to Cabinet in October.
Councillor Sue Morgan, Executive Member for Waste and Sustainability, said: “In 2019, we declared a climate change and nature emergency and one way to reduce our impact is to increase the amount we recycle.
“We would like to thank residents who already recycle as much as they can. If approved, the focus of this policy would be to educate and support those who are struggling to recycle, with enforcement action taken as the last resort.”
The report outlined that the council approved an enforcement procedure for household waste and recycling services, such as over-filling bins and leaving rubbish bags next to bins, in 2007.
In 2022, scrutiny members recommended the service make a number of changes before enforcement was introduced, including introducing new recycling vehicles, separating cardboard collections and participation surveys.
Since then, and following a survey of residents in 2023, a series of improvements have been made to the service aimed at increasing recycling rates in line with the Welsh Government target of 70 per cent.
The recycling service will review the committee’s recommendations ahead of the October Cabinet meeting when a decision will be made about whether or not to implement the policy.
Read the draft waste education and enforcement report
Watch a recording of the meeting
Find out more about recycling in Torfaen