Denbighshire Council is facing backlash after a video surfaced online revealing recycling workers mixing food waste with carefully separated “dry recycling.” The council recently implemented the Trolibocs scheme, requiring residents to wash and separate recyclable items before collection. However, reports and footage have emerged showing workers co-mingling different waste types, including placing food waste on top of cleaned recyclables, which the council has acknowledged as an error.
During a heated council meeting, Plaid Cymru and Labour councillors joined forces to maintain the current coalition leadership, despite calls for a change from the Independent Party. Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts criticized the incident, emphasizing ongoing systemic issues with the recycling programme. He raised concerns about the impact of mixing food waste with dry recycling on other waste services and the environment.
A spokesperson for the council addressed the situation, stating that co-mingled collections are meant to be kept separate from food or residual waste. They attributed the mixing incident to a training and communication error, assuring that steps have been taken to prevent it from happening again. The council clarified that co-mingled collections are only temporary while addressing a vehicle availability issue and that they aim to cease this practice once resolved.
Residents and officials are calling for accountability and a swift resolution to ensure the effectiveness and integrity of the recycling system. The council’s response to the issue will be closely monitored as they work to rectify the blunder and regain the trust of the community in their recycling efforts.
The controversy surrounding the mishandling of recycling waste highlights the importance of proper waste management and the need for stringent protocols to protect the environment. As discussions continue on how to address the shortcomings in the recycling system, residents await concrete actions from the council to uphold sustainable practices and promote a greener future for Denbighshire.