Recycling ‘blueprint’ still the best option for waste collection
22 Mar 2016 04:46 PM
An independent review of the Welsh Government’s guidance on waste and recycling collections has found it is still the best model for Welsh local authorities to follow.
The Welsh Government’s recommended model for the collection of waste from households includes:
- weekly separate collection of dry recyclables via ‘kerbside sort’, with material being collected separately in boxes and/or in re-usable sacks, with two or more boxes provided per household, and recyclables being sorted into separate compartments on the collection vehicle by the collection staff
- weekly separate collection of food waste
- the use of modern lightweight, multi-compartment vehicles for a single pass collection of dry recyclables and food waste
- fortnightly collection of residual waste, from collections with reduced residual waste capacity, where ‘no side waste’ policies are enforced.
The review, which was carried out by Eunomia Research and Consulting found that the ‘Collections Blueprint’, as it is known, continues to offer clear benefits in terms of cost and material quality as well as its impact on recycling performance.
It also found that there is strong evidence to support policies focussing on the restriction of household waste as well as acknowledging that separate collection results in higher quality, less contaminated material.
Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant said:
“I am pleased the review concluded that the Collections Blueprint still provides a good basis for a waste collection standard for Wales.
“The widespread adoption of the blueprint provides the best overall economic, financial, social and environmental solution for Wales. It would lead to efficiency savings through procurements, to shared depot facilities and a more consistent approach for householders as well as a consistent way of presenting materials to market.”