Helping residents to recycle more

COMMUNITY recycling advisors will soon be hitting the streets of Llanelli to support residents and increase Carmarthenshire’s recycling rate.

The advisors will be visiting households in the Morfa, Dafen and Felinfoel areas to offer advice on the green bin/blue bag recycling scheme.

Monitoring work is already underway in these areas to find out how many people are participating in the scheme.

It will be followed by a door-knocking exercise to find out if there is a reason why some householders are not recycling and to encourage them to take part.

The advisors will have a stock of replacement food bins and blue bags as well as information booklets and collection calendars.

Recycling Advisor Geinor Lewis said: “By talking to residents we can sort out any issues they may have. From something as simple as not having a green food bin to not knowing when their collection day is or just by explaining how the scheme works and why it is important that we all take part.”

The council has received funding from the European Regional Development Fund, through the Welsh Government, for the new post. It forms part of the South West Wales Materials Efficiency project with Pembrokeshire County Council.

The aim of the project is to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by promoting reuse and recycling.

A similar exercise carried out in the Llwynhendy and Penyfan areas saw a 20% increase in the amount of food waste being composted.

Executive Board Member for Street Scene Cllr Colin Evans said: “The recycling advisors are doing a fantastic job by getting out into the community and supporting and advising residents.

“It is important we continue to increase our recycling rate and I am sure that if we all work together we can really make a difference.”

The council is currently recycling around 53% of its rubbish but must reach a target of 70% by 2025. Failure to do so could result in large financial penalties.