NEW seagull-proof ‘super-sacks’ have been made available by Ceredigion council in a bid to stop the mess around Aberystwyth on bin day.

The Caru Aber Super Sacks - available for £10.50 each from the Ceredigion Museum and Tourist Information Centre (TIC) shop in Aberystwyth - are the latest of a number of pilot initiatives looking to improve issues arising with waste presentation in Aberystwyth town centre.

Rubbish-strewn town streets have been a regular sight on collection day.

“The sacks can be used to store waste and protect it for the time in-between it being presented on the street and collected,” the council said.

“The sacks provide an alternative to wheely bins and other containers where storage space and access may be an issue.

“They provide greater protection for the waste from ravaging wildlife, including seagulls, as well as the elements.”

Each super sack will hold up to three or four normal sized waste bags.

Cllr Dafydd Edwards Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Environmental Services, Housing and Customer Contact said: “This is the latest of a number of measures the County Council has introduced in Aberystwyth to try and improve long standing issues relating to waste presentation.

“For the situation to further improve will need the assistance of local stakeholders in Aberystwyth to take greater ownership and responsibility for their waste.

“The availability of these sacks locally provides another opportunity to achieve this.”

The sacks are the latest pilot initiative launched as part of the wider Caru Ceredigion.

“Caru Ceredigion is all about looking to positively and proactively engage local communities in delivering solutions to issues which are important or of concern to them,” the council said.

“The issues arising in Aberystwyth on and around waste collection day are due to the waste not being presented in the right way and / or the right day.”

The scheme followed the latest discussions between the county council and Aberystwyth Town Council, who are “fully supportive” of the pilot.

Aberystwyth town mayor, Cllr Alun Williams said: “To help address the issues that can arise around waste collection days in the town centre requires the positive buy in and engagement of all residents.

“All of us living in the town have a responsibility to deal with our waste in the right way and that includes the way it’s presented for collection.

“I know many people have asked to be given the option of using sacks to protect their waste bags. “I’m sure there will be a demand for the sacks and we’ll all benefit from a tidier street scene on collection days.”