'Concern' as separated recycling mixed in bin lorry

Recycling sacks have been used to separate materials in Cardiff since a trial took place in 2022

A council is still sometimes having to mix separated recycling together in the back of a bin lorry.

Rahim Mustafa, from Fairwater in Cardiff, noticed rubbish that had been separated into different recycling bags by residents being mixed during a collection on his street.

Cardiff Council was questioned last year about its workers mixing separated recycling after the local authority brought in its new sack-sort scheme in 2022.

The council said it still has to do this on occasions but insisted this does not have a material impact on the recycling that is collected.

Mr Mustafa said his social media video was "not a reflection of the workers".

"It's just something that people are concerned by," he added.

He said it had left residents wondering why they are separating their recycling when it was being mixed in the same compartment of a bin lorry.

"I know people get fined as well for their rubbish. They won't take it away if you haven't divided it properly."

Mr Mustafa said he was concerned that the new scheme is confusing for some groups in the community.

"I know there's other people, elderly people, who may not understand.

"I've got kids and they often chuck the wrong thing in the wrong bag or [an item] that isn't even recyclable."

Most homes in Cardiff use the new system, which is aimed at improving the quality of recyclable material that the council picks up.

The scheme, which involves people separating the materials into different sacks, has shown signs of success, according to the council.

Figures from the local authority showed dry recycling, such as plastic, tins, paper and glass, made up 40.65% of recycling in the first quarter of of the year.

This is the highest percentage it has been since comparisons began in 2018-19.

Recycling performance also improved from 60% to 64% in the latest figures.

But the scheme has been criticised by residents and councillors that highlighted issues such as the space needed to store the bags and the problem of sacks blowing away in the wind after a collection.

Cardiff Council said the new recycling scheme has been a success since being rolled out

When Cardiff council was questioned last year, it said there were some issues with its new recycling lorries which meant general waste vehicles were used to collect separated recycling.

The council has 27 26-tonne split back vehicles for recycling as well as two 18-tonne vehicles.

Each vehicle must be inspected every six weeks and serviced once a year. The inspection of the vehicle takes three days, while an annual service takes five days.

The council said contingency vehicles were deployed if any of the twin back vehicles were not available which "may involve" mixing recycling materials.

"However, the quality of the recycled material remains unchanged, as it is later separated by a re-processor," it added.

"The improvement in the quality of recycling collected through the new system is significant, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank residents for embracing the scheme and adapting to it so quickly."