The council is preparing to change the way recycling is collected across parts of Carmarthenshire this autumn, introducing a separated recycling system aimed at improving both the quantity and the quality of materials recovered for reprocessing.
Phased introduction across the county
Carmarthenshire County Council will begin a phased switch in mid to late autumn, with the first stage affecting roughly one third of households in the western areas of the county. Households will be contacted directly to confirm whether they are included in the initial phase or will remain on the current system for now.
What residents will receive and how collections change
Homes moving to the separated system will be provided with a set of reusable sacks and containers to sort materials at the kerbside rather than using single-use blue bags. The council says food waste and recyclables will continue to be collected weekly, including glass, while residual waste collections will remain every three weeks with a limit of up to three black bags.
| Container | Items |
|---|---|
| Red | Metals, plastics and cartons |
| Orange | Cardboard |
| Blue | Paper |
| Red bags | Plastic bags and wrapping |
| Small white sack | Household batteries |
Council aims and resident guidance
The scheme is part of the Welsh Government’s Collections Blueprint, which seeks higher quality recycling streams across Wales. Councillor Edward Thomas, cabinet member for transport, waste and infrastructure services, described the scheme as an important step for Carmarthenshire.
"This new separated recycling service is an important step forward for Carmarthenshire. By sorting recycling at the kerbside, we can improve the quality of materials collected and support Wales’ ambition to become a world leader in recycling."
The council has emphasised it will manage the transition carefully and provide support to households. There will be no change to garden waste collections or to services for hygiene and nappy waste. Properties not included in the initial phase should keep using the blue bag system until further notice.
Local impact and what residents should do now
For those affected, the change will require an adjustment to bin storage and sorting routines, and some households may need to reorganise where sacks are kept between collections. The council will send letters confirming which properties are moving to the new system and offering the practical information residents will need.
Householders with questions or particular accessibility needs should look out for the council’s direct communications and guidance, which the authority has said will accompany the rollout to ensure residents can make the transition as smoothly as possible.
