Recycling in Flintshire

Flintshire Council want to thank residents for their efforts in recycling, which has meant that they have recycled over 62% of the waste that they collect.

As national recycling targets have now increased to 70%, collectively, we need to all play our part and meet this challenge.

The weekly recycling collection service for food waste, paper, cardboard, plastic pots, tubs and trays, glass, metal tins and cans is provided to every household, with additional collection services for absorbent hygiene products (e.g. nappies), medical waste and garden waste available on subscription. When these services are used fully there is no need for us to collect black bins as often , as there should only be a small  amount of non-recyclable waste items that can’t be recycled at the doorstep or via one of the household recycling centres.  All that should be left in the black bin is waste that cannot be recycled or composted.

Collecting recyclable waste weekly promotes a healthier, hygienic home environment as waste that may be deemed as odorous or unclean is taken from residents’ homes most frequently. Increasing the amount of recycling we collect also helps the environment by reducing the amount of waste burnt and therefore the amount of carbon emitted into the  atmosphere.

Since the adoption of the Resource and Waste Strategy in March 2024, a number of the key actions included within the six-year Strategy have been launched with the aim of increasing our recycling rates. One fundamental action is to restrict the amount of residual waste (‘general’ non-recyclable waste placed in the black wheeled bin) that we collect with the aim of all recyclable materials placed into the correct recycling containers, which are collected weekly. To do this, the Council’s Cabinet approved a change to the frequency that the black bins will be collected, which will change from every two weeks to every three weeks. There was also approval given to deliver the collection service over five working days instead of six. No changes are being made to food waste and recycling collections, and these will continue to be made every week.

Work is underway to plan and prepare for this service change and a report will be presented to the Council’s Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12th November outlining an implementation plan and communications plan. The report sets out an achievable implementation date for the change of 28th April 2025, which allows for sufficient time for planning and resource procurement to take place.

We want to thank our residents for their continued support with our recycling and waste collection services, we understand how important this is to each and every resident. We want to provide a first-class service, which is why we are taking the time to prepare and share our plans for the change fully. 

Cllr Glyn Banks, Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transportations said:

”Together, let’s get it sorted!. The “Together” being ALL OF US!!…We the Council will continue to provide the means to recycle every week, but importantly we need YOU the residents on board recycling absolutely everything possible using those means provided. Welsh Government’s ambitious recycling targets have, over the last few years, put Wales firmly near the top of the table for recycling and we can all play our part together to continue to achieve this. .

The difficult decision taken to go three-weekly collections with our black general waste bin is part of what we need to do to hit even higher targets that have been set, and our aim must be to try to head to the top of the table and be the best of the best. Where Wales goes, others follow!!”

We encourage every resident to review their current recycling habits and, if needed, please obtain any additional recycling bags, boxes and containers that they believe they may need to ensure that the change in black bin collections does not affect them. There are no limits as to the amount of recycling containers any property can have or put out for collection , but the black bin will be restricted to one per property with no excess waste outside the bin collected.