Recycling participation survey underway in Llanelli

A SET out survey is underway in the Sandy area of Llanelli to find out how many people are using their kerbside recycling scheme.

Council waste officers have been out and about early in the mornings before the crews to count the number of blue bags and green food bins put out for collection.

The exercise will then be followed up with letters to those households that are not fully participating in the scheme.

A total of 346 homes in the Sandy Water Park, Denham Avenue and Penywern area will be targeted.

Officers hope to find out how much people are recycling and what their views are on the scheme. They will also be able to give advice on how to recycle more household waste.

The aim is to increase participation in the scheme and subsequently the county’s recycling rate which currently stands at approximately 48%.

A similar exercise has already been carried out in the Carmarthen area which led to an 11% increase in participation.

Council sustainability officer Tina Brice said: “This route has been chosen at random and we will be repeating the exercise in other areas throughout the county. The aim is to find out more about participation levels on the blue bag and food waste scheme, and to give help and advice to residents.

“We want to encourage people to use their blue bags and food waste caddies as much as possible to reduce the amount in black bags that end up on landfill sites.”

Approximately 78,000 households across Carmarthenshire now benefit from kerbside recycling. The county has strict recycling/composting targets to meet and must reduce the amount of waste going to landfill or risks large fines.

Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “The council is committed to boosting the recycling rates in Carmarthenshire and all the work we are doing will improve and protect our environment now and for future generations.”