Blaenau Gwent has once again met its annual recycling targets despite the additional collection challenges faced throughout the pandemic. A report was presented and moved at Executive (Wednesday 10 November) and figures confirming that Blaenau Gwent has achieved 64.29% recycling, exceeding Welsh Governments set target of 64%.
The last 12 months have seen many significant challenges emerge as people’s buying habits have changed. For example, cardboard collection at the kerbside has increased by 36.66%. Lockdowns and stay at home policies have resulted in a kerbside collection increase of 1350 tonnes, along with an additional 500 tonnes of food recycling.
Our recycling performance continues to support the Council’s Corporate Plan in the priority of ‘Strong and Environmental Smart Communities’, which is to increase the rate of recycling and achieve national targets. Overall the figures set out in the Waste and Recycling Performance Report 2020/21 are very promising for the future and on target to meet the 70% recycling figure, set for Local Authorities by Welsh Government by 2024/25.
Councillor Joanna Wilkins, the Council’s Executive Member for the Environment said:
"I would like to thank our residents for continuing to recycle and thinking more about how they dispose of their waste and our recycling and waste frontline workers who have continued to work throughout these challenging times. This year’s Waste and Recycling Performance Report shows that we have continued to meet our recycling targets throughout these unprecedented times.
"I am proud of our performance and the hard work and dedication of our Waste Team in one of our most difficult years. The introduction of new techniques, which cater for recent changes in recycling behaviour, means we are developing and modernising our approach for the future. We can all make a difference and every single person that recycles their waste is helping tackle the climate emergency, by saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Welsh Government’s target will increase to 70%. More can still be done and I would like to encourage our residents to keep recycling.
“Most of your waste can be recycled and disposed of on a weekly basis. If residents require additional receptacles or support on what can be recycled, visit the Council’s website or contact C2BG.”