THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 27 2017 Like us on Facebook


facebook.com/thellanelliherald


7 News Fly-tipping claims challenged CLAIMS by an AM that


Carmarthenshire County Council’s implementation of recycling policies could lead to an increase in fly- tipping have been refuted by the local authority and the Welsh Government. Speaking to the BBC last week,


Lee Waters said that, while CCC was implementing their refuse collection policies, which are aimed at improving on the county’s already good recycling record, with ‘good intentions’, policies like that of allowing a maximum of four black bags to be collected per household each fortnight were having ‘knock-on consequences’. "Some families are trying to get


around that by putting their binbags in front of neighbours' houses," he said. "And when that's being reported,


they're being prosecuted, quite rightly, but to avoid that they are then fly- tipping. "I think there's a judgement for us all


to reach about how far we want to push this because if we push it too far, too fast, we're going to create unintended consequences. "So, we may well hit our litter


targets but we'll also create fly-tipping problems and broader littering problems which will increase costs." The Welsh Government said it made


'no apologies' for its commitment to increasing recycling. "By recycling more, we reduce the need to use natural resources, decrease


the need for landfill and save money," a spokesman added. "We are already making excellent


progress. We are the fourth best performing country in Europe, leading the way in the UK and exceeding the current 58% recycling target set in our strategy Toward Zero Waste." The link between black bag


collection and increased fly-tipping was also disputed, with the Welsh Government stating that they were unaware of any evidence linking the two.


Executive Board Member for


the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans told The Herald that the majority of householders in the county had no difficulty adhering to the four bag limit, which, as she pointed out, was introduced by the Labour-Independent coalition in 2008: “Residents are able to put out an unlimited number of blue recycling bags, and food waste is also collected separately, therefore reducing the ‘traditional’ black bag waste,” she added. “However, if residents do have issues with the black bag limit, for whatever reason, they are encouraged to speak to one of our recycling advisors so that they can help. “We are currently recycling


around 64% of our waste here in Carmarthenshire - way above the Welsh Government target of 58% - thanks to the efforts of our residents, and I would like to thank them for their co-operation.


I know residents in Carmarthenshire care about the environment in which they live, and are concerned about the effects of global warming, and want to do all they can to protect it for future generations. “If Mr Waters has any concerns about


the Labour-led Welsh Government’s Zero Waste Policy then I suggest he discusses it with his colleagues. “In relation to littering and fly-


tipping issues in Llanelli Town Centre, we are working hard to address these and we would like to reassure residents that it is a high priority. Although generally street cleanliness is good, there are hot-spot areas in the town centre, such as the rear lanes which are prone to fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour, and unfortunately, as soon as they are cleaned up, it is not long before they are back in the same mess yet again. “We are taking forward a number


of actions to develop solutions to some of the long-standing issues, particularly in relation to the back lanes, and also working closely with representatives of the community to resolve some of these issues. Our cleansing and enforcement teams are working more closely together so that rubbish bags and other fly-tipping can be dealt with more quickly and efficiently and we are looking at setting up ‘cleansing zones’ so that officers can take ownership of specific areas and allocate resources based on need.


Lee Waters: Black bag collection frequency could have ‘knock on consequences’


“We are also looking at specific


streets/areas with continual litter and fly-tipping problems to carry out a ‘task force day’ approach involving colleagues from other departments such as public protection and housing. Officers are engaging with the community, and are also looking at the powers available to ensure landlords meet all their responsibilities. We are also working with the police to tackle anti-social behaviour, in particular street drinking. “Our recycling advisors will


continue to visit households to educate residents; and our environmental enforcement officers investigate and


issue fines to persistent offenders. We have fined people for various waste offences including putting their rubbish out on days when it is not due to be collected; as this often causes litter problems. “A task force is being set up


and will meet for the first time next month. It includes colleagues from the departments mentioned above, as well as local elected representatives, representatives from the Town and Rural Council, the police, and various community groups. The aim is to bring together all the good work which is being carried out and work together to find a long-term solution.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12