More than 1,800 unhappy residents have signed an online petition calling for a halt to a controversial new two-bin-bag limit.
As anger grows among residents in Bridgend county ahead of the implementation of the council’s new waste scheme, which will limit most households to putting out two rubbish bags per fortnight, disgruntled Mel Eratt said she is determined the council “will hear our voices”.
“It’s got 1,862 supporters and that’s such a high amount in four days,” she said.
“I know that the contract (with waste service provider Kier) is signed, but even if the council just get to hear our voices because they have just done this so back-handedly.
“They have waited until after the local council elections to roll it out.”
Mel’s change.org petition comes days after fellow Bridgend county resident Darren James posted a 1,100-word rant on Facebook about the two-bag limit, which was widely shared.
He branded the scheme “draconian” and criticised the council and Kier for not being able to answer the question of what to do with the non-recyclable waste that will not fit into the two allocated bags.
The new scheme is designed to help Bridgend county reach the Welsh Government’s recycling target of 70% by 2025. It will mean residents have to sort their recyclabes into a total of six separate containers ahead of weekly collection from the kerbside.
Mel, 41, from Pencoed, said: “The recycling system we have got now is not effective, although it could be. Yes, people should be recycling but trying to implement another scheme that is more complicated, how is that going to do?
“Everyone’s moaning about it and that’s why I did the petition.
“Everyone is behind recycling, but with Bridgend council it’s like, ‘what is wrong with them?’
“If nothing changes then nothing changes, but at least we will have tried.”
Mel added that instead of putting the full onus of recycling on residents, the Government should also tackle big companies who cover their products in excess packaging.
Bridgend council’s new recycling scheme is due to start on June 5. Only properties with six or more residents or ash-producing coal fires can apply for extra bags.
A Bridgend council spokesman said: “Far from creating excess rubbish, the new service is designed to limit the amount of waste that has to go to landfill by maximising what can be recycled.”
