Wales is Currently Second in The World for Recycling Household Waste

Homes in Wales have the highest average number of bins in the UK, research shows, with some residents branding them ugly and dangerous.

The country currently ranks second in the world for household recycling, behind only Germany, and the Welsh government says this is due to all waste being sorted.

However, this means there are 10 bins per household, with Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil and Neath Port Talbot being the towns with the most to sort in the UK.

Some Blaenau Gwent residents said bins were often left on pavements because people didn’t have space at home, blocking footpaths and making the area look ugly.

However, others found the recycling options in Wales to be “very good”.

The council said six bins would be provided as standard, along with non-recyclable waste – for paper, plastic, cans, glass, cardboard and food.

Residents can also choose to have textiles, batteries, small electronics, garden waste and nappies collected – some of which require additional containers.

Recent research by the Taxpayers’ Alliance, a tax reform campaign group, showed Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil had the most wheelie bins in the UK, with a total of 10.

The report also said Wales had an average of six bins per household, higher than the rest of the UK.

According to the council’s standard list, Neath Port Talbot had the highest number of available bins, with nine, while Gwynedd had the lowest number, with five.

This does not include selective pickup of certain items.

In addition, the Welsh government introduced new waste recycling regulations in April, requiring all waste from offices, businesses and holiday homes to be legally separated for recycling.

Residents of Blaina in Blaenau Gwent had mixed feelings about the effectiveness of the multiple waste system.

Keziah Jones, 35, said she was not happy with the situation, adding: “We had bags before, which were more practical because I could put them in the kitchen cupboard. They were ugly.”

She said that while a trolley was provided to stack the containers, “there was no alternative and they often broke in the wind”.

Ms Jones said she had no choice but to leave the containers permanently on her doorstep.

“I can’t lug all this stuff around the house by myself, our kitchen is on the first floor,” she said.

“My grandmother lives on this street too and these [containers] are so huge. She can’t pull that cart and it’s a nightmare for elderly people.”

She added that the bins can be “dangerous” because they block footpaths.

“When my little boy was little I put him in a stroller and I had to go out into the street,” she said.

Stephen Pegler, 68, said sorting the items was “no big deal” but added: “There are a lot of rumours about recycling because we see them being dumped… What annoys me is that we have to work to sort it and then they all go to the same place.”

Elizabeth Geting, 77, who lives alone, said she doesn’t have enough recycling to fill all her bins.

“A lot of people don’t wash and sort [their recycling]. It’s up to people if they bother.”

On a wet and windy day, Ms Geting was picking up rubbish in the street.

“It’s 10 o’clock now and the bin man hasn’t come yet, too bad. You should have come earlier,” she added.

Paul Harrington, 72, said he was building a waste shed as part of an ongoing renovation of his home.

“I’m lucky because that’s what I’m doing now anyway, but lots of other people can do it right on their doorstep,” he said.

“Segregating recyclables at the kerbside means less contamination and therefore more valuable materials at the other end,” Blaenau Gwent Borough Council said.

“Currently our recycling rate in Blaenau Gwent is around 66 per cent, which is above the Welsh Government’s latest target.”

The Welsh Government added that Wales’ recycling ranking was achieved “by separating materials to increase recycling rates and reducing the amount of waste we send to incineration and landfill”.