THE decision to scrap the blue wheelie bin in Denbighshire has been labelled an “absolute disaster and a squandering of money” by a former county councillor.

In February, Denbighshire County Council shared its plans to introduce a new recycling system on June 3, when residents will be required to separate their “dry” recycling using a new three-tier trolleybox.

These will be delivered to households before the end of May.

READ MORE:

New recycling and waste system set to come to Denbighshire

Dewi Owens MBE served as a city councillor for St Asaph for more than two decades, and as a county councillor from 2004 to 2017.

Mr Owens said he fears that the new system will lead to “an enormous amount of rubbish all over the roads”, and disagrees with the council’s suggestion that it will provide better value for money.

He said: “I don’t agree with the council that it will provide better value for money. To me, this has been an absolute disaster and a squandering of money.

“It was a case of educating people to put their waste in the correct bins, but that never happened.

“There are people who don’t take any notice of what they put in bins and put in anything into anywhere – educating them about what the right thing to do is would have been far better.

“The conversation that the council officers had with the people who take the waste was, I feel, not robust enough. They should have asked them how we can handle our waste, so that it’s best for us and for them receiving it.

“I would like the system that we have at present to be retained, but possibly with the addition of an extra bin purely for newspaper and cardboard. They are the most ‘precious’ of the types of waste we have.

“In some areas, what will happen when the bins are full and seagulls are about? You’re going to have an enormous amount of rubbish all over the roads."

The new service is 55 per cent funded by Welsh Government, while there will also be free new weekly collection services for small electrical items, household batteries and textiles.

In addition, there is to be a new weekly service to collect absorbent hygiene products (e.g. nappies and wipes, incontinence pads, and disposable bed pans and liners).

Several Welsh local authorities have already rolled out similar changes, and have seen an increase in the quantity and quality of recycling collected in those areas.

In response to Mr Owens’ comments, Denbighshire County Council said the new model will be “significantly cheaper” than the current scheme, saving roughly £450,000 annually.

A council spokesperson said: “As a result of implementing this new change, there will be 27 new local jobs created, and many more indirect jobs created and safeguarded in Denbigh.

“The new service ensures that there will be an increase in the recycling rate for the county as a whole.

“Each delivery of the new Trolibocs units includes informational material which clearly explains how to use utilise the new service, so every resident will know how to use their new bin when the service begins. 

“The new waste model went through a public consultation and the decision to introduce it was made by cabinet in December 2018.

“The new service will commence on June 3.”