THREE-weekly black bag waste collections have moved a step closer after Ceredigion Council’s Cabinet agreed to go out to consultation on the proposal.

As part of a shake-up of waste collection and recycling services in Ceredigion the council wants to change black bag residual waste collections from fortnightly to three-weekly, as well as introduce a new glass recycling collection on a three-weekly basis.

The proposals would see food waste and general recycling collections continue weekly, while there would be a fortnightly collection of absorbent hygiene products such as nappies, continence pads and feminine hygiene products.

Paul Arnold, of the technical services department, said that the changes were needed to ensure the council met recycling targets.

He warned that, although the authority currently has one of the highest recycling rates in Wales, improvement is needed, especially in terms of waste that could be recycled but is put into black bags.

Ray Quant, the technical services Cabinet member, said: “This is a service that affects everybody in Ceredigion and we need to get the message out to the community.”

He added that the changes were aimed at getting more people to use food waste recycling collections and the current co-mingled dry recycling instead of putting items in black bags, as disposing of the black bag waste was more expensive.

Cllr Quant said: “We want to make people push this stuff out of the black bags.

“The waste collection service is at a challenging but exciting time for the council with decisions needing to be made to ensure savings and quality services for residents.

“I hope many residents will share their views in the consultation on the new proposals.”

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