Streamlined waste service goes up for discussion

An update on Denbighshire’s new waste and recycling service will be given to councillors this week.

This aims to offer residents new kerbside recycling services for textiles, small electrical goods, batteries and where needed, nappies and incontinence waste. 

On Thursday, Denbighshire County Council’s Communities Scrutiny Committee will hear an update on plans for the weekly recycling service, along with a four-weekly residual waste collection, to be implemented during 2023.

The new weekly trolley box recycling service was approved by the council’s cabinet in December 2018.

The roll-out will start after the completion of a new centralised waste depot on the Colomendy Industrial Estate in Denbigh, with construction set to begin this summer.

Tony Ward, the council’s Head of Highways, Facilities and Environmental Services, said: “This project contributes significantly to the council’s environmental ambitions as we will be using less fuel, recycling more waste and producing higher quality recycling suitable for use in the UK manufacturing industry.

“We fully recognise this is a significant change in the way we collect waste and recycling, but together we can make it happen and the council will be engaging fully with residents, schools and other key members of the community as we move towards the 2023 launch.

“The new service will see increased recycling performance to meet the Welsh Government’s 70% target by 2025, and future proofing the service against policy change and waste related legislation with an expectancy the target could rise to 80% in future.

“It should result in a minimal amount of residual waste being created and residents can free up even more space in their black bin by using a new kerbside recycling services for textiles, small electrical goods, batteries and where needed, nappies and incontinence waste.  

“This is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach, and alternative solutions will be in place for those households who find managing their waste more challenging.”

“The new service will also offer the council the option to explore a more significant switch to ultra-low emission and electric powered vehicles for waste collection. 

It will also allow the council to tackle issues relating to seagulls attacking waste bags left out and a lack of storage for householder waste containers in certain parts of the county, including some areas in West Rhyl.

“This includes providing a seagull proof sack and a trial of microchipping containers to evaluate the benefits in regards to reducing escaped waste, abandoned bins or bins left out or stolen and contamination of recycling.”