Flintshire to ban unsorted waste at recycling centres from April

Flintshire County Council will introduce a Visible Waste Policy at its Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) from 1 April 2025, requiring residents to separate recyclable materials before visiting the sites.

Under the new policy, black bags containing unsorted waste will no longer be accepted.

Residents must ensure their waste is visible upon arrival, and any bags containing recyclables may need to be taken home for sorting before disposal.

The move is part of Flintshire’s commitment to the Welsh Government’s “Beyond Recycling” strategy, which aims to create a sustainable, circular economy.

While Flintshire currently recycles 62% of its waste, a recent waste analysis found that around 58% of materials disposed of in black bins could be recycled through existing collection services.

Items such as food waste, glass, cans, paper, plastics, and cardboard are still being thrown away despite kerbside and HRC recycling options.

Why is the policy being introduced?

The statutory recycling target in Wales has now increased to 70%, up from 64%.

However, Flintshire has not met its recycling targets since 2019.

Without significant changes, the Council will fail to reach the new target, potentially leading to financial penalties exceeding £1 million from the Welsh Government.

How will it work?

• Residents must sort recyclable waste from non-recyclable items before visiting the HRC.
• Waste must be visible upon arrival, and black bags may need to be opened for inspection.
• If recyclable materials are found inside, residents may be asked to return home and sort their waste.
• Only non-recyclable waste will be accepted in the residual waste skips.

Will this lead to more fly-tipping?

Flintshire Council has stated that fly-tipping is a criminal offence, and offenders will face investigation and potential fines.

“Other councils in Wales that have introduced a Visible Waste policy at their HRCs have not experienced an increase in fly tipped materials.” The councils website states.

Residents should ensure that any sensitive items in their waste are separated before visiting the recycling centre to avoid any issues when disposing of materials.

Site staff will not sort waste on behalf of residents.

It will be responsibility of each individual to ensure their waste is correctly separated before arrival.

If site operatives cannot see the contents of a bag, or if the waste has not been properly sorted, residents may be asked to leave and return once the sorting is complete.

For those in need of extra recycling containers, residents can request additional recycling boxes and bags to ensure all recyclable waste is properly collected and disposed of.

The Council is encouraging all residents to continue recycling as much as possible and to comply with the new policy, helping Flintshire meet environmental targets and avoid financial penalties.