Residents will be kept up to date with new Council recycling initiative

RESIDENTS have welcomed new pilot initiatives to increase recycling in Carmarthenshire.

Free semi-clear bags will be available for non-recyclable waste, and starch liners for food waste bins in four trial areas.

The council has been inundated with calls since the decision was announced by the council’s Executive Board on Monday (June 20).

The semi-clear bags have been ordered, but will take three or four weeks for delivery. Residents will be informed of when they will be available for collection at Customer Service Centres via the council’s website and through the local press. They will be available free of charge to all Carmarthenshire residents for collection only.

People can continue to use black bags and /or a mixture of both black and semi-clear bags for non-recyclable waste if they wish.

The starch liners will be provided to 8,000 households to discover whether it would increase the amount of food being collected. Four areas will be chosen as part of a six-month trial. These areas have not yet been confirmed but once a decision has been taken, the householders will be informed and starch liners delivered.

Executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “We have ordered the bags and the liners and are awaiting delivery. Officers are working on which routes would best suit the six-month trial of the starch liners and once the logistics have all been worked out householders will be informed.

“The aim of the semi-clear bags is to encourage people to separate their waste for recycling and we also want to find out if the starch liners increase participation in the food waste scheme. We will be carrying out an extensive survey with residents to find out their views. Although we are already recycling 43% of our waste which is fantastic, we have a lot of work to do to reach our 2012/13 target of 52%.”

The survey will be carried out in the autumn via Carmarthenshire News, the council website, the local media, the Citizens Panel and 50+ Forum. Recycling officers will also be carrying out door-knocking exercises in some areas.

Householders are also being reminded that blue recycling bags are available for collection from the council’s Customer Service Centres or various community outlets, and can also be delivered on request free of charge by visiting www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk or by calling Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.