Recycling in Rhondda Cynon Taf has increased significantly in recent times thanks to more and more people recycling.
TEN years ago, only 45% of our overall waste was recycled – a figure which grew to 64% by 2016/17 and now stands at 67.48%.
The Welsh Government wants us to recycle 70% by 2024/5 - 'Let's HIT the TARGET'.
We must act now or face significant fines of £140,000 for every 1% that we fail to reach. At an already difficult time, this vast sum of money could result in services being cut or affected to pay the fines.
'Let's UP Our Recycling GAME' RCT - as the Council cannot afford these potential fines from Welsh Government if it doesn’t reach this target and we must support Wales' efforts to become net-zero by 2030.
Of all the waste generated by an average household - including nappies, food and garden waste - 80% of it, if done right, can be recycled via our free weekly kerbside collections or our Community Recycling Centres.
This is why we have changed the collection frequency to three-weekly and set the limits on the black bag/bin waste we will collect. We believe the limits are ample for a household that is recycling correctly.
If you are recycling as much as you can, as often as you can - as three out of four people in RCT already are - then you are unlikely to be affected by the black bag/bin waste limits.
Our focus is on those who are recycling very little or not at all.
Based on the fact that an estimated 80% of the household waste we produce is recyclable, the number of black bag/wheelie bin waste we will collect has now been limited, to ensure people are recycling all they can.
The three-weekly collections have been introduced across Rhondda Cynon Taf from week commencing Monday 3rd July 2023.
Every household should now have received an individual letter that confirms their start date and if there are any collection day changes.
This will mean:
- Houses with a 240l (large) wheelie bin can put out the bin (lid closed) for collection. No additional black bags will be collected.
- Houses with a 120l (small) wheelie bin can put out the bin for collection, plus one standard black bag (70l max) to the side/on top.
- Households that use black bags can put out a maximum of THREE standard black bags (70l max) every three weeks.
- Dry recycling, nappy recycling, food waste recycling and garden waste recycling will remain unlimited and will be collected every week.
- Those who are clearly not recycling properly will now be identified and officers will be speaking to them to ensure they have the information and tools (caddies, bags etc) they need to recycle properly. Continued failure to recycle will mean warnings, instructions and, ultimately enforcement, including a £100 fine.
Recycling Target
The changes will now help us reach the 70% recycling target.
Those who repeatedly fail to recycle could face a £100 fine. Fines will only be issued as a last resort following awareness-raising exercises and notices from enforcement officers.
There will be exceptions to the limits set on the black bag/bin waste, which will be rescinded over Christmas and New Year.
Households with exceptional circumstances, including those disposing of ash which cannot be recycled, can request an Additional Black Bags Allowance online or request an Assisted Collection online.