The recycling and waste management challenges faced by businesses and residents in Powys was the subject of a National Assembly debate sponsored by Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George.
During the debate in the Senedd (Wednesday 25th January), Mr George also highlighted the grave concerns people have regarding Powys County Council's proposals to close a further Recycling Centre in either Welshpool or Newtown.
Mr George also called for the Welsh Government to reduce the barriers to recycling – arguing that reducing the frequency of residential and commercial waste collections could result in an increase in environmental crime such as fly tipping.
In Powys, local firms have been told that their commercial recycling collection is coming to an end, leaving many Montgomeryshire businesses in limbo.
Mr George has also called on the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Environment to look at changing outdated legislation to ensure that Councils provide adequate Recycling Centres.
Speaking following the debate, Mr George said:
"The overall picture for Welsh recycling is a positive one and the Welsh Government’s performance on recycling is largely a record which we in Wales can be proud of.
"However, if we are to meet the Welsh Government’s 70% target by 2025, it is essential that we keep up the momentum by providing innovative solutions to increase recycling rates while reducing the barriers to recycling and the potential for environmental crime.
"I am therefore concerned that local authorities such as Powys are curtailing both residential and commercial waste collections, largely as cost cutting exercises, without providing the facilities to enable residents and businesses to increase their rates of recycling.
“Businesses in rural areas of North Powys are having their commercial recycling collection stopped at the end of this week and unbelievably, Powys County Council have said that unfortunately the only option is for the traders affected to either put all recyclable waste into the residual bin going to landfill, or take it to a household waste recycling centre. Surely, this response is unacceptable in a climate where we ought to be encouraging better recycling practices.
In an usual step, Mr George showed a short film in the Assembly chamber of local areas affected. A Kerry resident, Paul Martin, who appeared in the film said:
"I fear that Powys' current cost-cutting policies, unless addressed, will have an adverse effect on recycling rates in the county and will result in fly-tipping of rubbish.
"Changes to the recycling policies in Powys are coming at the same time as further recycling centres are under threat of closure or reduced opening times.
“I’m grateful that Russell gave me the opportunity to highlight the concerns people have about one of the ‘Potters’ Recycling Centres closing.
"It will soon become nigh on impossible for people to recycle without significantly altering their daily routine. We must make it easier for people to recycle, not harder."
Mr George is encouraging people to answer a short online survey which can be found at https://www.russellgeorge.com/recycling-survey
You can also obtain a paper copy by calling 01686 610887.