Cardiff Council to Push Ahead with Recycling Change
Residents in Cardiff will soon receive an additional waste bag as the council aims to increase its recycling rate by introducing a dedicated collection for soft plastics.
The city's cabinet has approved this new initiative, which targets lightweight and fragile plastics such as clingfilm, bread bags, and crisp packets.
Data indicates that last year Cardiff improved its recycling rate by 4%, reaching 64%, although this remains below the 70% target set by the Welsh government.
Opinions among Cardiff residents about the change vary. One resident commented:
"Rubbish bags don't look very nice, but it's more important that people recycle."
How Will It Work?
Residents will be provided with rolls of dedicated 30-litre bags designed for storing clean and dry soft plastics. These bags should then be placed inside the existing red sacks for kerbside collection.
The council anticipates that this system will simplify the recycling process for residents and can be integrated into the current scheme without causing capacity issues.
The new collection method will not apply to flats that use communal bins. Instead, a separate trial will be conducted to determine the best approach for collecting soft plastics from these buildings.
Additionally, the council plans to modify the collection schedule for absorbent hygiene products, such as nappies, reducing the frequency from twice a week to once a week starting in April 2026.
The change is scheduled for introduction this summer, ahead of a statutory national requirement effective from April 2027.
Soft plastic collections are expected to significantly enhance Cardiff's recycling performance.
Councillor Norma Mackie, cabinet member for waste, street scene & environmental services, stated:
"Soft plastics represent a significant proportion of Cardiff's residual waste."
"Both these interventions will aid Cardiff in achieving the Welsh government statutory requirement of 70% of municipal waste being recycled."
What Do Residents Think?
Cardiff residents have expressed mixed reactions to the introduction of new recycling bags.
Andrew, a Cardiff resident, believes there are already enough recycling bags but intends to use the new ones. He said:
"I'm not opposed to it but there's so many recycling bags now."
Sandra, 27, was unaware of the change but feels it is timely. She commented:
"Rubbish bags don't look very nice, but it's more important that people recycle. The more recycling we can do the better."
Ellie, 34, who works at a property management company, expressed a neutral stance on the change, stating:
"I'm not bothered about new bags really. It's obviously important that we recycle but I hope the items do actually get recycled."
Vin and Rhys, both from Cardiff, believe the funds used to provide new recycling bags would be better spent improving recycling centres. Rhys remarked that he has observed bin lorries mixing waste, leading him to question the effectiveness of additional bags. They said:
"I think the money should go into investing in the local recycling centre, it would make more jobs and waste would be sorted properly."
