Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies, who, since it was first mooted, has been campaigning against Denbighshire County Council’s plan to scrap the blue wheelie bin, has said it is one of the worst decisions the Council has ever made.
Last week, Denbighshire made public its plans to introduce a new recycling system on Monday 3 June 2024, when residents will be required to separate their ‘dry’ recycling using a new three-tier trolleybox. This will be delivered to households before the end of May.
James has met and exchanged correspondence over this topic with senior council officers and county councillors on many occasions and is therefore disappointed that his views, and those of others who oppose the changes, have been ignored.
He said:
“The council has followed this path under heavy pressure from the Labour/Plaid Welsh Government to adopt its preferred model, but did not have to do so.
“The reason given for the change has been the need to increase recycling rates, yet the 2022-23 statistics demonstrate that Denbighshire is currently achieving an impressive 65.9% recycling rate. It is already performing above average for Wales, and second best out of the six councils in North Wales. Importantly, it does better than some councils which already have the model it intends to implement.
“The actual reason for the change has always been about saving money, and receiving millions in the process for setup costs from the Welsh Government. Yet the projected annual savings were always small and based on variable factors. As predicted, the upfront cost of the change will have more than wiped out any savings for many years to come. Plus the £12m "sweetener" from the Welsh Government is still taxpayers' money.
“I consider the council's decision to ignore opposition and plough ahead regardless to be one of the worst decisions it has ever made, and to be unforgivable in the context of this year's 9.34% council tax increase.
“Following many delays and cost increases, the council now plans to introduce the new system in June 2024. It is doing so on the basis of support from its Cabinet only - Full Council has never been given a vote on the matter.”
He added:
“There are other ways in which recycling rates could be boosted while retaining the blue wheelie bin. However, Denbighshire have shown an unwillingness to reconsider or explore a range of other options or compromises.
“Limited consultation carried out by the council has been dishonest - failing to spell out the fact that the blue bin has been under threat. There has in general been a reluctance to communicate the proposed changes to the public, in the knowledge that they would be very unpopular.
“I made two particular suggestions to the council in July 2021:
(1) That optimal recycling promotion and enforcement activity be implemented on the existing system. If recycling rates were the true reason for the change, the council would already be doing this.
(2) That a full assessment be carried out on the impact of the forthcoming national Deposit Return Scheme, the details of which currently remain unclear, but which threaten to derail any business case for the council’s proposals.
“In the spring of 2023, I sent out 5,000 surveys which included a question about the kerbside recycling service. Replies indicated that the vast majority wanted to retain the existing system - but I am concerned that many still remain unaware of the proposed changes.”
In November 2023, James visited Shotton Mills Ltd (SML) with Gareth Davies MS and Denbighshire Conservative Councillors. This facility is the current destination of Denbighshire's kerbside waste, which it processes via a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
James said:
“SML will need to actively encourage councils to send it paper and cardboard waste so as to allow it to fulfil its future plans for the site. It sells sorted glass and plastic “downstream” and can continue to do this. As a result of the Welsh Government's policy strategy, it is now having to bring most of the waste it processes from elsewhere in the UK.
“My assessment is that SML need DCC’s paper and card waste in particular and that the proposed collection of cardboard in a bag attached to a trolleybox will be a backward step, with the material being more liable to be wet, hampering the recycling process.”
James added:
“These plans are being put in place by Denbighshire despite the fact that other councils in the UK have been making the opposite move - from boxes to co-mingled wheelie bins - and that many residents in neighbouring Conwy, which already has a trolleybox system, continue to complain bitterly at the lack of space for cardboard and the mess created when the trolleyboxes blow over on windy collection days.
“Denbighshire County Council has confirmed to me that they have no plans to increase road sweeping to remove street litter under the new system, even though this was found to be necessary prior to the blue wheelie bin system being introduced.
“Even at this late stage, the council should re-evaluate its plans and seek all ways in which the blue bin could be retained. At present, no discussions have taken place between the council and the Welsh Government to explore flexibilities that may exist within its grant-funded works. The new waste model has required the construction of a new depot on the Colomendy Industrial Estate in Denbigh and there is scope for this to be used in any scenario.”
Further views on this matter can be seen on James' campaign page at www.savethebluebin.info.
