Cabinet is set to consider proposals to standardise waste collections across Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The proposed changes, if approved would see Black Bag collections standardised across ALL areas of the County Borough.
Meaning residents, including those in Cynon and Taf will need to place their general waste out for collection in a maximum of 3 standard size (70L) Black Bags (as per current allowance) from the end of September 2024.
Under the proposals, collections remain the same frequency, the 3 bags every 3 weeks remains the same and wheelie bins can still be kept and used for storage until collection day, the only change is Black bags would need to be taken out and presented at the kerbside for collections on the resident’s normal collection day and time.
The proposals would ensure that:
- Residents and visitors will benefit from an improved streetscape, by removing the bins as obstructions in between collections from pavements; the council receives many complaints about bins on footways, especially in narrow terraced streets.
- The Council can use its waste collection fleet more efficiently by having standardised vehicles across RCT.
- Residents will not have to wheel or carry wheelie bins through their homes or up and down garden steps.
- The Council can use other smaller vehicles to collect black bags if larger collection lorries are not able to access a street due to parked cars.
Director of Highways, Streetcare and Transportation Services, said:
“The proposed changes would see a standardised waste collection method for all residents of Rhondda Cynon Taf – something a number of residents asked for during the changes last year.
“Data analysis of the proposed introduction of Black Bag Collections for ALL appears to come with a range of potential benefits, including an improved streetscape with less obstructions, increased recycling rates and a more efficient waste service along with improved utilisation of the waste fleet and less impact on residents that have no option at present other than to bring their bins through their properties or up and down garden steps, etc., as bins are not be kept on the footway 24/7.
Under the proposals there would be:
- NO CHANGE to how often residents waste is collected, which will still be every 3 weeks.
- NO CHANGE to the maximum limit of 3 black bags per household, so they would be able to put out the same amount with the same frequency.
- NO CHANGE to their collection day or time.
- In addition to all these potential benefits, the Council also needs to hit the Government’s 70% recycling target for 2024/25 so that it avoids large fines. Full year recycling data for 2023/24 shows that the Council’s recycling rate has improved to 67.23%, up from 64.97% in 2022/23, thanks to the efforts of residents since the move to three weekly collections in 2023. However, with less than a year to go to reach the Welsh Government’s statutory 70% target, recycling performance requires further improvement beyond the measures taken during the last 12 months.
A review of the data since the 2023 changes were implemented, reveals alongside the need to improve the efficiency of the service and increase recycling rates, it is clear that there is a significant difference between those areas where wheeled bins are collected (Cynon and Taf) and those where black bags are collected directly from the kerbside (Rhondda); specifically, recycling, (including food waste). Data indicates that the Rhondda area recycles around 30% more* and place out around 50% less* black bag waste than in neighbouring areas.
Rhondda residents have been putting out Black Bags for collection for many years without bins and this proposal would ensure that the whole of the County Borough operates the same standardised collection method, with better use of the Council’s fleet, removing obstructions from the footways caused by the bins, whilst for others it will mean they don’t need to take bins back and forth through their homes.
More information on these proposals can be found at - www.rctcbc.gov.uk/ProposedBinstoBagsCollections and a link to the full cabinet report can be found here - Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 17th July, 2024, 1.00 pm - Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (moderngov.co.uk).
Posted on 10/07/2024