Council works with residents to improve recycling rates

Education and enforcement officers have been working to address issues with waste and recycling across Bridgend County Borough.

By working with housing officers in four areas over the past 18 months, they have improved access to kerbside recycling facilities and collections for residents.

This has led to a drop in the amount of unrecyclable waste now being collected and a cleaner environment for the local community.

In Jubilee Crescent, Sarn, officers worked with Valleys to Coast after the council’s waste partners Kier reported excessive amounts of residual waste being left out for collection. Recycling bins were placed in a communal area, and education and enforcement officers worked with residents to let them know about the changes.

Kier has since reported that crews are now collecting almost half the amount of residual waste. Officers are now working with Valleys to Coast to reduce the amount of contaminated recycling being left out.

At the Oakwood Estate in Maesteg, residents had no recycling facilities when Bridgend County Borough Council officers started their project. Kier provided recycling facilities, Valleys to Coast installed individual storage hatches for each flat, and education and enforcement officers spoke to residents about the new procedures.

Meanwhile, education packs were posted to residents of Heol Dwyrain, Bridgend, at the beginning of lockdown in March 2020 due to problems with excess waste.

Officers followed up with visits when restrictions were relaxed and new recycling sets were installed in April 2021, leading to a drop in the amount of residual waste being collected.

At Pil Y Cynffig, North Cornelly, officers worked with residents who had been leaving refuse bags on the roundabout for collection. During the first visit, more than 130 bags had been left but a few weeks later, this had dropped to zero with householders making use of their recycling containers and leaving residual waste outside their homes.

Many thanks to Valleys to Coast and residents for engaging with our education and enforcement officers to increase the amount of waste we can recycle.

Where possible, we’re moving away from communal collection points, which can look unattractive when piles of bags mount up.

Residents are kindly reminded to make sure that only the correct items are placed in their individual recycling containers and rinse out food and drink packaging to avoid contamination.

Councillor Hywel Williams, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources

Johnathan Luxton, Communities Estates Officer for Valleys to Coast, said: “Valleys to Coast will continue to work alongside Bridgend County Borough Council to improve recycling and waste arrangements on our estates.

“We encourage members of the community to get in touch with us to work together to improve the situation further and share ideas to move towards a cleaner and greener Bridgend.”

For more information about what you can recycle, visit the council’s website.