Councillors call for waste sites to be reopened

Independent councillors have written to the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council about the “strength of feeling” among residents wanting to see household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) in the borough reopened.

Cllr Kevin Etheridge and Cllr Nigel Dix, who both represent the Blackwood ward, have written to Cllr Philippa Marsden after receiving numerous complaints from residents about the issue.

Cllr Etheridge said he has had more than 20 complaints from residents, while Cllr Dix raised concerns about fly tipping.

Cllr Dix said: “I fully appreciate that we’re all in very challenging times and safety has to be the priority. However, the closure of waste transfer sites has resulted in increased fly tipping, and the burning of waste that would normally end up in council waste sites.

“The public have been very supportive and understanding of the council decision to close waste sites.

“I am asking that council review this decision and work to put in measures that allow waste sites to open safely, while sticking to social distancing.”

HWRCs in Caerphilly County Borough have been closed due to the pandemic, with travel to the sites classed as non-essential travel.

A council spokesperson said: “We have not seen an increase in reports of fly tipping since the closure of household waste recycling centres. 

“The figure for reports received during the past month are comparable to those for the same period of last year; with 174 reports received last month and 189 during the same period in 2019. 

“The council continues to follow Welsh Government guidance in relation to the restriction of non-essential travel, with household waste recycling centres remaining closed for the time being. 

“However, residents are now able to arrange for unused items of household furniture and white goods to be collected with the council’s bulky item collection service resuming on Monday, May 11.”

Councils across Wales say they are working with Welsh Government to open sites as a national response when it is safe to do so.

The Welsh Government said it is continuing to “monitor the situation” with councils, the Welsh Local Government Association and Fly-tipping Action Wales.

“We are also working in partnership with local authorities to plan a co-ordinated approach for the reopening of Household Waste Recycling Centres, however local authorities have the ability to manage operational decisions and local issues,” a spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, Fly-tipping Action Wales has warned residents about the rise of individuals posing as legitimate waste disposal businesses on social media.

Additional reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service