Pink sacks on their way to Swansea homes for plastic recycling trial

THOUSANDS of pink recycling sacks are set to be delivered to more than 3,000 homes in Swansea as part of a new recycling trial.

Letters have gone out to around 3,200 households in the trial areas which include parts of St Thomas, Bonymaen, Pentrechwyth, Pontlliw and Pontarddulais.

Each home in the trial area will receive two reusable pink sacks, which look similar to the garden waste sacks but have velcro straps and a weighted bottom to stop them blowing away.

Delivery of the sacks will start from April 7 and households will be expected to use the sacks on their next plastics collection following the delivery.

Chris Howell, Head of Waste at Swansea Council, said: “Residents in the trial areas have already been informed they are included and will hopefully know what they need to do. Delivery of the reusable sacks will begin in April and we will get the trial under way soon after.

“We’re always looking at ways to improve kerbside recycling services as well as reduce costs to the authority. We get lots of feedback from the public and we know lots have problems with their bags being blown around streets on windy days because they are usually light in weight.

“The trial collection scheme will hopefully address many of these issues.”

The Council introduced a limit to the number of black bags that residents could put out on a pink week. The move has helped encourage household to recycle more of their waste instead of just using black bags.

The Welsh Government requires all council to recycle 58% of their waste by 2016. Latest figures suggest Swansea is recycling approximately 58%.

If you live in St Thomas, Bonymaen, Pentrechwyth, Pontlliw or Pontarddulais and want more information go to the council’s website www.swansea.gov.uk/bagtrial