Opposition councillors have kicked out over the Vale of Glamorgan Council's new waste collection proposal, which includes plans to move to one bin bag collection every three weeks. At a meeting this week, council cabinet members will also be asked to approve plans to start charging residents for garden waste collections.
If approved, the changes will come into effect from July 1. Commenting on the proposals, Plaid Cymru group leader at the council, Councillor Ian Johnson, said: "The Vale are looking to cut costs by reducing their service to residents, while increasing council tax.
“Leaving black bags uncollected for three weeks may be a health risk, particularly during the summer months, and assumes that houses have the capacity to look after black bags for three weeks at a time. Meanwhile, charging for collecting green waste from gardens is in direct opposition to the promotion of biodiversity in urban areas.
Read more: 'Vale of Glamorgan Council to go to one bin bag collection every three weeks'
“Plaid Cymru councillors will be studying these proposals carefully and challenging the so-called logic behind them.” The proposed garden waste charge will come in the form of an annual subscription payment for the collection of green waste once per fortnight between March and November.
It will be a ring and request service on a first come first served basis, between December and February for subscribers. Group leader for the Conservatives at the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Councillor George Carroll, said the proposed changes to waste collection would be a "kick in the teeth".
He added: “At the same time they’re being asked to cough up an extra 4.9% in council tax, residents are also being told services will reduce. Less frequent black bag collections and charges for the garden waste service are the opposite of value for money. The council must think again and drop these proposals.”
Despite a better than expected funding increase of 8.9% from the Welsh Government, the Vale of Glamorgan Council's leader, Councillor Lis Burnett said the figure "will not resolve" the financial pressures in the authority's budget. The green waste charge is one of the ways that the council is looking to alleviate this pressure.
Together with reducing staff and vehicle numbers for green waste collection, it is hoped the subscription will help the council save £500,000. By reducing bin bag collections to just once every three weeks, the council is hoping to improve the rate of recycling in the Vale.
A council report which will be discussed by cabinet members this week states: "In 2022, a national waste compositional analysis was undertaken across Wales. The report clearly indicates that black bag waste still contains recyclable materials. The highest offender being food waste at 14.52%.
"This not only impacts on black bag weight and recycling performance but also on service resource demands from clearing split bags and spillages ripped open by birds and vermin as well as reducing street cleansing standards." A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson said: “The Council has made its stark financial situation clear as discussions on the 2023/24 budget continue.
“We are facing a budgetary shortfall of around £9 million, with the cost-of-living crisis a key reason for that. Like other Local Authorities, businesses and individuals, the Council has been significantly impacted by a volatile economic environment that has seen energy prices soar alongside climbing inflation and interest rates.
“The measures referenced are some of the service changes being considered across the Council as part of its budget-setting process. All such proposals will be subject to public consultation shortly.”
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