A recent report reveals that only 48% of Merthyr Tydfil residents recycle their food waste, falling short of the Welsh average
Merthyr Tydfil: It turns out that less than half of the folks living in Merthyr are recycling their food waste. A recent report showed that only 48% of residents are doing their part, which is lower than the 56% average for Wales.
Back in 2022, a study of what people were tossing in their wheelie bins found that a whopping 30% was food waste that could’ve been recycled. The council’s performance report for 2023/2024, which was discussed in a meeting on January 8, noted that while the overall recycling rate met the national target of 64%, the percentage of waste being reused or recycled actually dropped each quarter.
The report pointed out that Merthyr households are generating more food waste and recycling less compared to the Welsh average. In 2023/24, each person produced about 185kg of waste, which was on target but still the same as the previous year. To keep up with the latest news from Merthyr Tydfil, you can sign up for the newsletter.
There’s also talk about an empty, overgrown pub site in Cardiff that might be turned into housing, and a piece of art in Cardiff Bay that many people overlook.
Looking ahead, the report emphasized the need to cut down on food waste to help improve recycling rates. The goal for 2024/2025 is to reduce waste to 150kg per person. Councillor Clive Jones mentioned that around 14,000 households are still tossing their food waste in the regular bins.
He acknowledged that there have been efforts to educate the public, but he feels that in 2025, it’s unacceptable for people to still be using the wrong bins when they’ve been given the right containers and bags for food waste. He stressed that this issue has been discussed multiple times and that it’s crucial to get it sorted out to boost recycling rates in Merthyr Tydfil.
