Re-usable pink bags extended to communities in Gowerton

A MAJOR trial of reusable pink sacks is being extended to communities in Gowerton as part of a new recycling initiative taking place in the city.

Swansea Council has already rolled out the trial to 3,200 homes in parts of St Thomas, Bonymaen, Pentrechwyth, Pontlliw and Pontarddulais.

And now residents in some parts of Gowerton have received letters informing them of the changes ahead of a delivery of two reusable bags to each participating household.

Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation, said: “We’ve had plenty of feedback from residents in those areas already using the new reusable pink bags and it’s been pretty positive.

“Each reusable pink bag is capable of holding the about same amount of plastic as two of the single-use pink bags households use in non-trial areas.”

“Apart from the fact that the new bags are better for the environment than the single use ones, the special weights in the bottom of the reusable bags reduce the risk of them getting blown away in windy weather.”

Cllr Thomas said that early results from the trials in Pontarddulais and St Thomas/Bonymaen also indicated that the quality of the plastics being collected has improved with little affect to participation levels.

Residents receiving the new reusable bags will need to start using them immediately ready for the first collection on August 7 as plastics in single use bags won’t be picked up.

The pink plastic recycling scheme has been very successful since it was launched 2010. Tens of thousands of households across the city use the service, helping to reduce the amount of waste the people of Swansea send to landfill.

The Welsh Government requires all council to recycle 58% of their waste by next March. The latest figures for Swansea show that in the first year following the introduction of the Keep it to 3 black bag reduction campaign there has been a significant rise in recycling rates and a 6,000-tonne reduction in the amount of waste going to landfill.

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