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Newport recorded one of the highest recycling rates in Wales last year, new figures show.

The 71.4% of waste recycled in the city last year was lower than just three other council areas.

Cllr Yvonne Forsey, the city council’s cabinet member for waste, has welcomed the news and thanked residents for their part in helping Newport smash the 70% minimum target the Welsh Government introduced last April.

She said Newport’s strong performance was evidence the council’s decision to implement new waste management policies had been effective – even if they have not always proved popular.

This includes the move to three-weekly bin collections, which the cabinet member said “was made to encourage recycling as the default option”.

Last year was the first year three-weekly bin collections were fully implemented across Newport, and Cllr Forsey said “our recycling rate is at its highest ever level, which shows the success [it] has had”.

But she admitted the policy was the biggest challenge the council faced in reaching the new 70% target, and nearly half of what the city’s residents still throw away could be recycled.

Food waste, which is collected weekly alongside other recyclables, makes up 27% of bin-bagged waste, costing the council £440,000 to dispose of every year.

Cllr Forsey also believes “greater awareness among residents of recycling and how to recycle correctly has also helped lead to the increase” in Newport’s recycling rates.

The move to three-weekly bin collections, the continuation of a Covid-era tip booking policy and an older move to smaller bins drew plenty of criticism, both during and after their implementation.

Cllr Forsey has faced questions in the council chamber and in written form from other representatives who are sceptical of the measures.

But in light of the new figures, she said “we firmly believe these figures show that these changes have had the impact we were looking for”.

Every improvement in recycling performance means the council spends less on waste disposal and avoids Welsh Government fines, the cabinet member explained.

“Newport is outperforming cities such as Liverpool, Birmingham and Nottingham,” she added. “That is an incredible achievement, and one that everyone in Newport should be proud of. We are leading the way when it comes to recycling, and we’re determined to continue this for a long time to come.”

The council’s most recent initiatives include setting up dedicated collections and recycling bins in the city centre, for people living in flats, and also launching “pop-up” recycling centres in the city’s communities.

The next pop-up event will take place on Saturday January 31 at Alway community centre, from 9.30am to 2.30pm.