NEW figures also show Carmarthenshire is continuing to reduce the amount of waste it is sending to landfill.
During 2012/13 the county sent 15,572 tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) to landfill – that’s just 61.5% of its 25,304 tonnes allowance.
The figures have been revealed in the Landfill Allowances Scheme for Wales annual report, published by Natural Resources Wales.
The Landfill Allowances Scheme (LAS) limits the amount of biodegradable waste – such as paper, cardboard and food waste – 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.
Methane produced by the breakdown of biodegradable waste in a landfill can have 25 times more impact on global temperature than carbon dioxide.
Carmarthenshire was one of eight local authorities in Wales to be singled out in the report for using the least amount of its allowance (less than 70 per cent).
Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “As well as achieving an excellent recycling rate, we are also reducing the amount of rubbish we send to landfill year on year; making a real difference to the environment in which we live.”
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle
