Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A new scheme for the collection of garden waste has been given the go ahead by the council’s Executive Board. It will replace the current collection scheme of garden waste bags, which will stop at the end of October. Under the new scheme, residents will be provided with a 240 litre wheeled bin and garden waste will be collected fortnightly between March/April and October. Householders can request a smaller bin of 140 litres if they wish. It will cost £48 a year and residents can choose to pay by direct debit with payments spread over six months (April to September); or if they choose to pay in full they will receive a 15 per cent discount reducing the cost to £40.80. The council is taking delivery of a new fleet of refuse vehicles which come into operation from October 31 and they will not be able to collect garden waste. Currently, garden waste is collected with the food waste in the rear of the vehicles; however, the new vehicles will have a separate pod for food waste only. Loc...

A total of 1,187 tyres have been collected to date from four recent waste amnesty events around Carmarthenshire. The events have been held in Newcastle Emlyn, Pencader, Llanybydder and Burry Port. Other unwanted items taken along by residents included 4.56 tonnes of large white electrical goods eg washing machines, fridges, freezers, cleaners etc. Of these events Newcastle Emlyn reached the highest overall recycling rate of 69%. The aim of the amnesties is to encourage people who may not live close to a recycling centre to dispose of their waste responsibly, reduce fly-tipping and increase recycling. Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “The majority of the waste collected will be recycled which means it won’t end up in landfill causing pollution. “We hope the amnesties encourage people to do the right thing and dispose of their waste in a responsible manner and raise awareness of why it is so important that we recycle as much possible.” The waste and ...

People in Carmarthenshire are being reassured that they can put their rubbish out after 6pm the night before the collection day. The move follows misinformation being circulated that residents can only put out their refuse on the day of the collection. Recently, two people were fined for putting their rubbish out on the wrong days, but technical Services Executive Board Member Cllr Colin Evans said prosecution was always a last resort, and responsible people need not be concerned. “The council does of course take a common sense approach, prosecution is always a last resort”, Cllr Evans said. “We provide advice on recycling and refuse and our officers are happy to visit people at home to help if needed. If there are particular issues we work with residents to resolve them. “Unfortunately, misinformation has been issued regarding rubbish, but we want to reassure residents that it is perfectly acceptable to put rubbish out after 6pm the night before the collection day. “Most people are ...

A waste and tyre amnesty in being held in Llanybydder. Residents are being urged to have a good clear out and take advantage of this one-off chance to to get rid of their household rubbish. The amnesty, organised by the council’s waste and recycling section and Tidy Towns, is taking place on Wednesday, February 19 between 8am and 1pm at Llanybydder car park. Most household waste can be taken along including unwanted furniture, carpets and mattresses, electrical items such as fridge-freezers and televisions, garden waste and tyres (maximum 10 tyres per household / no tractor or lorry tyres). However, paint, garden chemicals, car batteries, gas bottles, asbestos, construction and trade waste will not be accepted. Residents that dispose of any waste items will also get a free bag of Merlin’s Magic Compost (while stocks last) courtesy of CWM Environmental Ltd. Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “The aim of the amnesty is to encourage people to recycle mo...

There are some changes to refuse/recycling collections in Carmarthenshire for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday. If your usual collection should take place on Monday, June 4, it will be collected the Saturday before, June 2. Then from Tuesday, June 5 until Friday, June 8, collections will take place one day later. Collections will be back to normal from Monday, June 11. Residents are reminded that the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in Trostre (Llanelli), Wernddu (Ammanford), Nantycaws (Carmarthen), Whitland and Llangadog are open as usual on the Bank Holiday. For further information visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/recycling or call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567. Usual collection                                             Collection on Monday, June 4th                           ...

The Fly-tipping Action Wales partnership today (23 March 2011) launched a fresh appeal for householders to take responsibility for their own waste, as part of a new campaign cleaning up fly-tipping hotspots in communities across Wales including Carmarthenshire. Latest annual Flycapture* statistics published by the Welsh Government show that a total of 41,750 cases of fly-tipping were reported in Wales (01 April 2010 – end March 2011), which equates to around four incidents per hour on average. Household waste accounts for the highest proportion of total cases at almost two-thirds (65%). The Welsh Government funded partnership, Fly-tipping Action Wales, consists of 50 partner agencies working together to reduce the number of incidents of fly-tipping, which cost Welsh tax payers more than £2.2 million each year to clean-up. The new Spring Clean campaign comes at a time when people across Wales are getting ready to carry out more DIY, renovation and garden work at home. Householde...

There are some minor changes to Carmarthenshire Council's refuse/recycling collections on the week beginning Monday 7 May 2012: Usual Collection                    Collection On Monday 7 May 2012            Tuesday 8 May 2012 Tuesday 8 May 2012            Wednesday 9 May 2012 Wednesday 9 May 2012       Thursday 10 May 2012 Thursday 10 May 2012         Friday 11 May 2012 Friday 11 May 2012             Saturday 12 May 2012 All other days are as normal. The Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in Trostre (Llanelli), Wernddu (Ammanford), Nantycaws (Carmarthen), Whitland and Llangadog are open as usual on the Bank Holiday. For further information visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/recycling or call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.

Summer is on its way and Carmarthenshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are now open later. All five sites across the county have now switched to their summer opening times (from April 1 to September 30). Trostre (Llanelli); Nantycaws (Carmarthen); Wernddu (Ammanford) and Whitland, run on behalf of the council by CWM Environmental, are now open from 8.30am to 7pm seven days a week. Llangadog, which is operated by AWS, is open from 8am to 6pm weekdays and 10am to 4pm weekends and Bank Holidays. Remember you can recycle around 30 different types of waste at the HWRCs and you can also take along your blue bags if you missed your collection (except Llangadog). The aim is to make it as easy as possible for residents to recycle and dispose of their waste. For further information on what materials can be recycled at the HWRCs visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/recycling

Council chiefs in Carmarthenshire are reassuring residents that action is being taken to clear the backlog of missed rubbish collections across the county. A number of complaints have been received by the council from householders who have experienced problems with their refuse collection during the past three weeks. The council apologises to residents for the disruption and is working with the trade unions to resolve the situation with the refuse collectors as soon as possible. In the interim, arrangements have been put in place for additional resources to be brought in to ensure the council can fulfil its statutory duty to collect domestic waste. It is intended to clear the excess rubbish on the streets by the end of next week; however, if householders have concerns in relation to ripped bags and vermin please contact us so that we can arrange for them to be removed as soon as possible. The council would like to make it clear to residents that there have been no changes to health and...

  The police and council in Carmarthenshire have teamed up to tackle the problem of fly-tipping in an area of Llanelli. Environmental scanning has identified the lane off Martin Rd in Penyfan as a fly-tipping hotspot. This area has been a problem for some time and the council’s environmental enforcement officers are working with the Bigyn Neighbourhood Policing Team and residents to try and prevent it. Not only does fly-tipping spoil our quality of life and enjoyment of the environment, but it can cause serious pollution and harm to human health as well as to wildlife. PCSO Lauren Hopkins said: “We’re linking in with residents, housing officers, councillors, our colleagues in Neighbourhood Watch and enforcements officers to try and stop this problem here. “Every year thousands of pounds are spent on clearing rubbish that’s just dumped this way. “This lane will now be closely monitored by the enforcement team. I’d ask the public to now come forward with any information that might ...

Residents in Brynamman are being urged to have a good clear out and recycle any rubbish they have lying around the home. A waste amnesty is being held on Saturday (October 29) in the car park next to the Bowling Green off Brynceunant between 8am and 10.30am. Householders can take advantage of this one-off chance to dispose of any large items of rubbish for free. Most household waste can be taken along including bulky waste items such as furniture and electrical goods. However, asbestos, tyres, paint, garden chemicals, batteries, gas bottles, construction waste and trade waste will not be accepted. As much as possible will be recycled. The event has been organised by Carmarthenshire County Council and the aim is to encourage residents to dispose of waste that may otherwise be fly-tipped as well as encourage them to recycle and/or reuse as much of their rubbish as possible. Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “I hope residents take advantage of this opport...

An Ammanford woman has been fined for failing to comply with the council’s kerbside recycling scheme. Kelly May Bourne was convicted in absence for two offences contrary to section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that the council’s environmental enforcement officers received a complaint of a number of bags of rubbish to the rear of a property in Parc Penrhiw in Betws. On arrival, they found 18 blue bags, the majority of which contained non-recyclable waste. A number of them also had council stickers on, informing the owner that they had not been collected because they contained incorrect items. Closer inspection showed the bags contained wood shavings mixed with animal faeces, children’s clothing, toys and food waste. The bag also contained a bank document addressed to Kelley May Bourne. As the officers continued to inspect the waste a woman approached them and ide...

A man has each been fined £75 for dumping bags of rubbish on the ground at the recycling bring site in Llandovery. The council’s environmental enforcement officers were on duty at the site when they saw a vehicle towing a large trailer stop directly in front of the bring banks. A male got out of the vehicle and unloaded several blue and black bags which he placed on the ground. He then unloaded a cardboard box containing bottles which he put in the glass bank, but then left the box on the ground. As the man started to pull away from the site, the officers approached him explaining who they were and what they had seen. They searched the bags and found a large amount of food waste and other general waste that could not be recycled. The officers highlighted the sign at the entrance to the bring site which clearly stated that no items were to be left on the ground. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and ...

Householders can take advantage of a one-off chance to dispose of any large items of rubbish for free. Most household waste can be taken along including bulky waste items such as furniture and electrical goods. However, asbestos, tyres, paint, garden chemicals, batteries, gas bottles, construction waste and trade waste will not be accepted. As much as possible will be recycled. The event has been organised by Carmarthenshire County Council and the aim is to encourage residents to dispose of waste that may otherwise be fly-tipped as well as encourage them to recycle and/or reuse as much of their rubbish as possible. Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “Bulky waste such as furniture, wood and cardboard left lying in and around homes is a fire hazard and can result in fly-tipping, which is not only a nuisance and unattractive, but is also environmentally harmful and potentially dangerous. “Much of our waste can also be reused or recycled, from carpet...

Semi-clear bags for non-recyclable rubbish are now available for residents in Carmarthenshire. The bags have been introduced as a pilot initiative to help encourage householders to separate their waste for recycling. They are available free of charge for collection only at the council’s Customer Service Centres in Spilman Street, Carmarthen; Ty Elwyn, Llanelli; and Ammanford Town Hall as well as the council offices in Llandeilo. People can continue to use black bags and/or a mixture of both black and the semi-clear bags if they wish. Director of Technical Services Richard Workman said: “We must reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill and recycle as much of our waste as possible or we risk large fines. We are looking at ways of how we can improve our recycling rate by making it easier for residents to recycle their rubbish and the semi-clear bags are just one of a number of pilot schemes we are introducing over the next few months.” Householders are being reminded that blue recyc...

Bryan O’Leary gets up at the crack of dawn five days a week to help recycle your rubbish – but you won’t hear him complain. The 43-year-old from Ammanford works for Carmarthenshire County Council as a refuse/recycling driver so early starts are part and parcel of the job. “I get up at 5am and I’m in the depot by 6,” said Bryan. “And I’m usually in bed by 10. I was a postman for 16 years before I started this job and I’ve been doing this for eight years now so I’m used to it. I do try and have a lie-in on the weekends though.” Bryan drives one of the council’s split-back lorries which are used to collect food waste and blue and black bags depending on what week it is. He said: “It is quite a big responsibility; I have to check the lorry every morning and there are health and safety issues that have to be considered. As the driver you have to think about the safety of the whole crew and the general public.” When he’s not in work Bryan, who has a 15-year-old son, coaches athletics with th...

A Llanelli woman has been fined £200 and ordered to pay £200 court costs for putting her rubbish out in the back lane when it is collected at the front of her property. Claire Judith Davis, aged 32, of Warerloo Street, was convicted in absence to an offence contrary to Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that the council’s environmental enforcement officers had received a complaint about a large number of rubbish bags in the back lane between Queen Victoria Road and Waterloo Street. On arrival at the scene the officers found 16 black bags of waste and closer examination of the waste revealed a document addressed to Davis. They returned to the office and checked their records which showed that Davis had been issued with a Section 46 Notice on two occasions for not putting her waste at the correct collection point. The officers visited Davis and asked her why she...

Carmarthenshire residents are being reminded to only put their rubbish out on their day of collection or risk being fined. It comes after a Llanelli woman was fined £150 and ordered to pay court costs of £100 after putting her waste out days before collection was due leading to the bags being ripped open by animals causing rubbish to be spilled all over the road. Katie Wilson, aged 28, of Long Row, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The court heard that the council’s environmental enforcement officers received a complaint that a number of bags of refuse had been deposited in the rear lane of Long Row and they had been ripped apart causing a mess. The officers found evidence amongst the waste relating to Wilson and on checking their records discovered she had been issued with a statutory notice under the Environmental Protection Act the previous month to put her waste out on the correct day...

Carmarthenshire is winning in the race towards zero waste. The council is No20 in a UK league table of 203 local authorities showing the amount of rubbish being thrown away per person. The table has been put together by industry magazine Resource as the best measure of progress towards zero waste. Recycling and the separate collection of food waste together with waste minimisation initiatives have helped reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Based on official figures from WasteDataFlow the average person in the UK now throws away about 283kg per year – the figure for Carmarthenshire is much lower at 245.8kg. Carmarthenshire was the second best performing authority in Wales after Denbighshire in the table. Executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “We are working hard to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and to increase our recycling rate. “For Carmarthenshire to be the 20th out of 203 local authorities throughout the UK – not to mentio...

A Llanelli man has been fined after his waste was found fly-tipped. Hilton Joe Morgan, aged 47, of Parc Morlais, Llangennech, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 34 of the Environment Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that on Sunday, June 20 last year the council’s environmental enforcement officers were on duty at Swiss Valley in Llanelli where they saw a large amount of waste that had been tipped in a gateway to a field. The waste included a child's bike, household furniture, wood, rubble, carpet, underlay, bags of broken tiles, dismantled kitchen units, worktop, television, bathroom suite and cardboard packaging. The officers found evidence among the waste relating to an address in Felinfoel. When the officers attended the property they saw tiles, empty pots of tile adhesive and grout, and the same cardboard packaging they had seen fly-tipped in Swiss Valley in t...