THE way kerbside waste is collected in Carmarthenshire, which would eventually result in black bag waste being collected every four weeks rather than three, is changing next year.
A third of the county’s residents are expected to shift to the new model of collection next autumn with the remaining two-thirds following suit in 2028 – and at that point the switch to four-weekly black bag collections is set to begin, a report before the council’s cabinet said.
The new system will mean householders separating more of their recyclable waste into different containers than currently. These containers will then be collected by refuse staff, and the frequency of recycling collections will increase.
The cabinet report said there will be separate weekly collections for glass, paper, cardboard, cans, and plastics including plastic film film. New
weekly kerbside collections for textiles and batteries will also be introduced.
Cabinet approved the phased roll-out of the “blueprint” collection system, as it is known, at a meeting on July 31. The aim is to increase recycling rates, reduce the volume of so-called contaminated waste, and cut collection-related costs.
Introducing the report at the meeting, Cllr Edward Thomas, who has the waste portfolio, said the phased roll-out proposed was a “significant first step” in adopting the blueprint model.
“It signals our intent both to Welsh Government and to the public, demonstrating progress on our waste strategy ambitions, while enabling us to test, learn, and refine the service model ahead of full implementation,” he said.
The council had planned a full roll-out in 2026 but it required a new central depot at the Nantycaws household waste recycling centre near Carmarthen. Concerns about road safety and increased traffic on the main A48, which leads to and from Nantycaws, put that plan on the back burner.
The cabinet report said the three existing waste depots in the county would continue to be used while plans to improve the Nantycaws-A48 junction were developed. It added that the authority would continue to work closely with staff and trade unions as the phased roll-out was taken forward.
Recycling rates in Carmarthenshire have been increasing, reflecting well on residents, but Welsh Government targets are also going up and new regulations come into force in 2028 which will result in financial penalties for black bag waste containing things which could be recycled.
It is expected that the Welsh Government will fund 60% of the costs of implementing blueprint model and the council 40%. The council has procured nine new “ultra low emission” refuse lorries which will start plying the streets on collection rounds from 2028.
Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, cabinet member for climate change, decarbonisation and sustainability, said he fully supported the change. “It’s essential if we want to reach our long-term environmental objectives and our commitments,” he said.
Council leader Darren Price said the phased roll-out was a pragmatic approach, and the proposals were approved.
2028 hopefully we will have someone else in by then
You call this progress ?… in Sweden they have bins that are on top of the ground with pipes underneath them air is pushed down the pipes and the rubbish will go to the right area so paper will go to the paper area and plastic is put in a different bin and that goes to a plastic area etc now that progress black bags once in 4 weeks that going backwards
Mr Edward Thomas I am still waiting for my meeting with you over the cleaning up of the pavements in Llanelli
the smell is going to be wonderful 🤮 after 4 weeks.
So we can expect more rats, gulls and fly tipping with the streets full of litter. Very disappointing Plaid Cymru Carmarthenshire County Council 😑
We as a family can’t recycle anymore than we do another week again for black bags is ridiculous! That’ll mean trips to the tip now as I don’t like bags hanging around in the garden as it is at three weekly collections. At least it now includes plastic film which will save me a trip to Tesco’s every week.
Council tax going up services going down
And where are residents meant to store all the separate containers for each individual recycling item? Especially those that have small or no gardens at all.
Less and less litter bins on the road sides for dog poo bags, means putting them into the black bag at home.This already attracts flies at this time of year.
As I use biogradable poo bags can I put the poo bags in my green bin??? Maybe I used do what a number of unresponsive dog owners do and let my dog foul on the street and not pick it up or sling thr bag on the side of the road.
Cyngor Sir Gâr – Carmarthenshire County Council
Dwindling services, increased council tax. 😤😤😤
The problem we have is that a lot of items are still un recyclable ♻️ so using black bags 4 weeks could work if we were able to put most items in blue but unfortunately we cant
4 weeks so miss one and it’s 8 weeks of festering smelly waste fouling the air. Pity our useless council cant do the job we pay for them for.
I’ve already got a shed cramed full most weeks and 2 bins in the kitchen. They don’t even collect our glass in my lane and hygiene waste less than half the time. Where am I going to put all the containers and how will I sort it all unless I use my bloody living room? AND. When I took a bag of clothes to Trostre last weekend, because all the containers were full, the staff (man) told.me to chuck it in the general waste. Totally rubbish and totally fuming.