Council rejects "black bag" use claims

A Powys County Council Cabinet member has refuted claims that a licence applied for at Abermule's bulk recycling centre means it will be handling household waste.

MyNewtown reported yesterday how Russell George MS and County Councillor Gareth Pugh had written to the county council concerned that a permit applied for with Natural Resources Wales would mean "black bag" waste would be handled at the recycling facility in addition to recycling being bulked and sent on for recycling.

Cllr Heulwen Hulme, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We have had a number of exchanges with Russell George MS and Cllr Gareth Pugh on this issue and will be responding to this latest letter in due course.
 
“The Natural Resources Wales permit is a technical document which clearly regulates how a site should be run to ensure that it is managed to the highest possible standard with no adverse effects on either the environment or the local community.
 
“It is granted purely on a technical basis as to whether a site is suitable for the purpose and all necessary management systems are in place.
 
“When a permit is applied for it is important to ensure that sufficient capacity is incorporated to avoid unnecessary and costly potential variations in the future. 

"Including all the waste types that we handle at present provides for a more comprehensive assessment of the potential environmental impacts at the site and will result in a stricter permit.
 
“We have been clear in our correspondence with Russell George MS that any decision to use the facility for residual waste transfer will need a revised planning consent which is not currently being progressed.
 
“The primary purpose of this facility remains to bulk up recyclable material to be transferred on for processing. Any potential future change to this will be considered in line with the Welsh Government’s drive towards a Circular Economy and Zero Waste principles.”