Carmarthenshire uses less than 60% of landfill allowance

NEW figures show Carmarthenshire is continuing to reduce the amount of waste it is sending to landfill.

During 2011/12 the county sent 16,581 tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) to landfill – that’s just 56% of its 29,611 tonnes allowance.

It is also a reduction of 4,022 tonnes on the previous year.

The figures have been revealed in the Landfill Allowances Scheme for Wales annual report, published by the Environment Agency Wales.

The Landfill Allowances Scheme (LAS) limits the amount of biodegradable waste – such as paper, cardboard and kitchen scraps – that councils are allowed to send to landfill. Exceeding these allowances can lead to severe financial penalties.

As well as saving councils money, reducing the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill also cuts greenhouse gas emissions and helps reduce climate change.

Instead the aim is to encourage the reduction, recycling, composting and treatment of this type of waste.

Carmarthenshire was one of nine local authorities in Wales to be singled out in the report for using the least amount of its allowance (no more than 70 per cent).

It was also one of three authorities to divert the largest proportions of paper and card.

Council Leader Kevin Madge welcomed the report. He said: “I am delighted by the figures for Carmarthenshire which shows that we are reducing the amount of rubbish we send to landfill year on year.

“Not only are we exceeding our targets and avoiding any potential fines; but we are making a real difference to the environment in which we live.

“It is important we keep up the good work and continue to reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill and recycle as much as possible.”

The Landfill Allowances Scheme was launched in 2004 and all 22 local authorities in Wales have achieved their individual 2011/12 targets and collectively hit the 2013 target a year early.

Executive Board Member for Street Scene Cllr Colin Evans said the figures showed the success of the green bin/blue bag recycling scheme.

“The green bin/blue bag scheme has been extremely successful and I would like to thank residents’ for their co-operation in separating their waste,” he said.

“Last year we recycled and composted 49% of our waste instead of sending it to landfill, which is excellent. But we are under pressure to increase our recycling rate and reduce our landfill even further. A number of new initiatives are underway in Carmarthenshire to make it easier for residents including a partnership with Age Cymru to help older people to recycle their glass and a scheme encouraging community groups to adopt their local recycling banks.

“By working together we can achieve our targets, help in the battle against climate change and improve the environment for future generations.”