People in parts of North Cardiff will be included in the final rollout of the city's new 'sack sort' recycling system next week (20 January).
From this date, residents who do not live in purpose-built flats and have not yet joined the scheme will start receiving their new recycling containers, with the first collections scheduled to start on 4 March.
From next Monday (20 January) people in Llanishen, Cyncoed, and Creigiau, as well as Butetown, Canton, Fairwater, Llanrumney, Old St Mellons, and Riverside will receive:
Blue caddy:Â For glass bottles and jars
Red sack:Â For metals, tins, aerosols, foil, plastic bottles, pots, tubs, and tetra packs
Blue sack:Â For paper and cardboard
They will also get a detailed booklet and a ‘quick guide' information sheet to explain the system.
The 'sack sort' system has already been delivered to thousands of properties across Cardiff, including in Rhiwbina, Whitchurch, and Birchgrove.
Cardiff Council says it has led to higher recycling rates (96% can be recycled compared to 70% under the old green-bag system) and less contamination (4% compared to 30% in the green bags).
Norma Mackie, the council's cabinet member for waste and environmental services said: "The remarkable improvement in recycling which we have seen in the parts of the city where the scheme is already up and running is good news, and we want to take this opportunity to thank residents for getting on board with the scheme and adapting to it so quickly.
"Separating recyclables into different streams is leading to less contamination. Previously, 30% of what we collected in the co-mingled, green, plastic bags was unrecyclable. In many instances, those bags would contain food waste or dirty nappies, among other things, causing a nuisance to staff who had to sort the waste at our depot.
"This unrecyclable waste then had to go for incineration leading to higher costs. The non-recyclable waste incorrectly placed in green plastic bags, especially food, also creates issues with animals and birds breaking open bags on the street, scattering litter across our roads".
The new 'sack sort' recycling scheme is Welsh Government's preferred way for local authorities to collect recycling from residents' homes. It is designed to help meet the recycling and composting targets that are set in law. Cardiff's recycling and composting rate must reach 70% by 2025, and zero waste by 2050.
The council says sacks were chosen over plastic boxes, as used in parts of Wales, because many properties in Cardiff don't have gardens - the sacks can be folded down when not in use. They are also easier to lift.
The council is using new waste vehicles with two separate chambers at the back - one for blue sack contents and the other for red sack. Separate vehicles collect the glass jars and bottles.
There have been times in Rhiwbina and elsewhere when general waste vehicles have been used to collect these streams together.
The council explains this happens for example if there's a vehicle breakdown or other operational reason. But it doesn't have a material impact on the recycling collected, because:
Residents have already ensured the recyclables are of high quality and the material collected in sacks/bottle bins is not being mixed with green bag recyclables;
They are brought back to the council's recycling facility at Lamby Way, which separates the material by size and weight, delivering the same quality recyclables as those which would have been collected in the twin-chambered vehicles.
Following the latest rollout, all houses in Cardiff will be covered by the new recycling scheme. A new scheme for purpose-built flats will follow.
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