Scrutiny committee visit recycling facility

COUNCILLORS in Carmarthenshire have been to see for themselves exactly what happens to our rubbish.

Members of the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee visited the landfill site and composting facility at Nantycaws before going to the Materials Recycling Facility in Johnstown, Carmarthen.

All of the county’s food waste is taken to Nantycaws where it is turned into compost / soil conditioner and then sold at the recycling centres.

Blue bags are taken to the recycling facility in Johnstown where the contents are sorted and then sent on to be processed.

Scrutiny Chair Cllr Peter Cooper said: “It was important for members to go along to both sites to see for themselves exactly what goes on.

“Not only did we find it very interesting but it was also extremely informative and I am in no doubt that it will help us when, as a committee, we need to make important decisions on waste related issues.”

More than half of all our waste in Carmarthenshire is currently recycled. The amount of rubbish going to landfill is also decreasing year on year.

Welsh Government has set challenging recycling / composting targets and there is a limit on the amount of rubbish that can go to landfill. Failure to meet either targets could result in severe financial penalties for the council.

Executive Board Member for Street Scene Cllr Colin Evans said: “Much work is underway in the county to reduce our waste and recycle as much as possible.

“The council is looking to increase its recycling rate by 2% every year for the next five years and is hoping to achieve a 70% recycling rate by 2025.

“This is no easy feat and to succeed we must all do our bit and make sure we use our food waste bins and blue bags and do all we can to reduce our rubbish.”