The scheme was launched two weeks ago in a bid to boost the citys recycling and composting rate, which currently stands at 46%.
Under legislation passed by the National Assembly for Wales, all local authorities must compost and recycle 52% of all waste in 2012/13, and 70% in 2024/25 (see letsrecycle.com story). If councils fail to hit these targets they could face fines.
Residents who refuse to have their black bag waste checked for recyclables will be unable to dispose of the material at the site, and will instead have to dispose of it through their kerbside collections.
The council said: We have launched the trial scheme to help boost the overall recycling rate for Swansea and to make the public aware of our current kerbside recycling services.
The scheme is not compulsory. Residents can choose to take part or take their waste back and use the kerbside collection service.
Swansea operates an alternate weekly collection scheme which sees paper and card, cans and glass, and garden waste collected on one week and plastic and residual waste the next. Food waste is collected on a weekly basis.
The council said the trial had been successful so far, as 67% of the waste that has been sorted has been sent for recycling.
Llansamlet
The Llansamlet site, along with the four other CA sites in the county, is managed by Swansea Waste Disposal, which is wholly owned by the council.
The council said if the scheme shows significant improvement in its recycling rate, it could be rolled out to the other sites.
The Llansamlet site accepts a variety of material for recycling and disposal including: batteries; books; cooking oil; waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE); mattresses; mixed plastics; paper; Tetrapak; and, wood.
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire county council also runs a similar scheme, which was launched over a year ago. The council said it started checking black bag waste for recyclables through a meet and greet scheme in a bid to increase the CA recycling rates in the county.
Executive board member for street scene, councillor Colin Evans, said: We have carried out a number of improvements at our Household Waste Recycling Centres which has helped to increase the recycling rate at these sites from 57% to 75% over the last year.
A number of initiatives have been introduced including a meet and greet, improvements to layout and infrastructure and an increase in staffing levels at the Trostre and Nantycaws sites. New signage has also been installed and residents are being encouraged to make sure they separate their waste for recycling before they arrive at the site.
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