Residents could end up having their wheelie bins taken from them if they do not follow the council’s recycling rules.
Over the last year more than 50,000 homes have been visited by council workers in a bid to boost recycling rates.
In a statement, Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The aim of the visits is to remind and re-educate residents on what can and cannot be recycled, while advising residents on how to make the most of the range of recycling services provided by the council.
“The visits are also intended to remind residents which items can be placed in which bin, as in some instances problems with incorrect materials being placed in the recycling bin remains a problem. This ultimately has the potential to impact upon the council’s recycling targets into the future.
“We are also working closely with collection crews, whereby recycling bins containing the incorrect materials will not be emptied. The crew will leave a sticker on the bin to identify the incorrect materials found, residents will also receive a letter to explain the findings. Persistent offenders will have their recycling bin removed.”
Cllr Nigel George, cabinet member for Household Services, said: “While our recycling rates compare favourably with councils across the country, thanks in the main to efforts from the majority of our residents, we need to recognise as a community that there is even more room for improvement.
“The feedback we’ve gained so far from the doorstep visits has been positive, and are helping to remind people of the importance of ensuring the correct items are placed in the correct bins.
“With the ongoing support of our residents, we can I’m sure, continue to be among the greenest areas in Wales when it comes to our recycling efforts.”
I always try to ensure my bins (3 in all) contain the appropriate items. The problem with any sanction for incorrect use is obvious though. We all put our bins out on the street the night before where theyremain at least for one night, sometimes more if the collection does not take place. What is to stop passers by throwing their styrofoam container complete with half eaten donner kebab and chips into someones recycle?
This does happen, I have often come home from work and brought in my bins to find that between emptying and my return home somebody has put rubbish bags in my bin. This policy of the council’s needs a bit of thought.
Well if bin men actuly emptied all the bins they won’t get this problem
Residents are not experts in materials that can and can not be recycled – far more items can’t be recycled than can be, with some packaging having part of it that can be recycled and part of it that can’t. We pay council tax for the council to take away our rubbish so get on with it!
What about all the residents running a business from home who have acquired multiple wheelie bins and are having their commercial waste taken away for free when they should be paying more as they are generating a great deal more waste than a normal household, the council should be taking action against them.
I have seen recycling bins overflowing with black bin liner bags ( which should not be in recycling bins ) but the bin crews still empty them ! Thereby knowingly contaminating their load.
The council needs to put its own house in order first !!!
Also they would do far better targetting households that make absolutely no effort to recycle !!!
where I live there are fines for not recycling and improperly sorted stuff is just not picked up. We have to use clear bags to enforce compliance because some folks are just stubborn and unwilling to get with the program. If people are putting trash in the recycling you put out the night before put it out the morning of ….. Really not that complicated
It’s not complicated if you happen to have the luxury of being at home in the morning. Spare a thought for those who work nights and call outs, by the time we reach home the bin lorry has been and gone. Putting out the night before is the only way to get the bin emptied.
Honestly the entire recycling system just is not fit for purpose here in Caerphilly. We live in little houses in crowded communities. The priority needs to be frequent removal of all waste from our towns and villages for sanitary reasons. Most people do not have the luxury of the space for multiple bins, instead bins are constantly placed at the front of houses making our area look, well trashy. I am a massive fan of recycling and really believe that everything that can be should be. The current rules exclude many items that should be. What is worse is that our drive in recycling centres are a hazardous, dirty and unpleasant to use. We are applying dark age solutions to a modern problem.