Homes in the “tri-bag” scheme are generally terraced properties with small or no frontages in the Cathays and Plasnewydd area of the city, and will receive the three bag service from this month. Each household will be given clear bags for the collection of garden waste and cardboard; green bags for glass, plastic, aerosols, paper and cans; while black bags will be supplied for the remaining household waste that cannot be recycled.
Some 19 wards currently have a wheeled bin service, which followed on from an earlier kerbside bag scheme. City spokesman Ian Lloyd Davies explained the reasoning behind the bag scheme: “We have taken a flexible approach with regard to wheeled bins. We do not force households to have them if they have no room outside their properties and this trial, which will last one year, will be assessed to see how successful the bag scheme is.” He added that the scheme is likely to continue after the trial period.
Cardiff now offers a collection service to 80,000 people, while 30,000 receive free kerbside collection on the four latest schemes. Eventually 100,000 will have the new wheeled bin scheme.
The city has a recycling rate of 13.5% with a target next year of 15% which it hopes to meet. The council considers it will meet a 25% target for 2006-07 and is also optimistic about hitting a 40% target for 2009-10.
Collections of recyclables are carried out by the council waste management department and sorting is done at its council materials recycling facility with cardboard continuing to be composted with green waste.
The online poll (www.cardiff.gov.uk) will help officers and councils in preparation of future policies and asks questions including:
Which process would you prefer to deal with residual waste that cannot be recycled or composted?
- Recovering energy from waste by incineration of untreated residue
- Recovering energy by treating residual waste to produce fuel for energy generation and produce more harmless residues for disposal by landfill
- Treating residual waste to produce more harmless residues all for disposal by landfill
In a separate initiative, the council has installed eight on-street recycling bins in the City Centre. Councillor Phil Robinson, Cabinet Member (Environment) said: “We all need to think more about what we buy and how the packaging can be reused or recycled to help prevent littering, improve the environment and help Cardiff to reach its recycling targets. We hope these recycling bins will capture the minds of shoppers and visitors as they go about their everyday life.”
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