Pressure mounts over "black bag" waste

Pressure is mounting to ensure no black bin waste is taken to the Abermule Bulk Recycling Centre.

MS Russell George and County Councillor Gareth Pugh, have said that Powys County Council should take any plans for black bag waste to be sent to the Bulk Recycling facility at Abermule off the table.

Powys county councillors were asked to consider proposals that were presented to the council’s Economy, Residents and Communities scrutiny committee on Tuesday, 30 January 2024.

The proposals include taking residual waste, otherwise known as black bag waste, to the Bulk Recycling facility at Abermule, near Newtown.

Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George said: “For the past 6 years the Abermule community, the local County Councillor Gareth Pugh, and I, have repeatedly raised with the local authority their intentions regarding residual Black bag waste, being sent to and stored at the Abermule Bulk Recycling facility. 

"There continue to be strong concerns that despite past assurances from the Local Authority, the Bulk Recycling facility will be used to store household residual waste."

He added: "I would like to reiterate my firm view that it would be entirely unreasonable and unacceptable for any residual waste to be sent or stored at the Bulk Recycling facility given the long history and previous commitments made.

"I would remind the Local Authority and point out that on numerous occasions over recent years the Council has made commitments to the community, and myself, that no residual black bag waste will be sent to or stored at the Bulk Recycling facility. The council should take these plans of the table.”

Commenting, Cllr Gareth Pugh said: “Residual, black bag waste will have a detrimental effect in attracting and keeping the current businesses to the Business Park. Any suggestions that a business would not be concerned by a bulking facility for black bag residual waste compared to a recycling storage facility is also not accepted by me.

On numerous occasions, the Council has made commitments to the community, and myself, that no residual waste will be sent to or stored at the Bulk Recycling facility. Over many years there has been a great deal of mistrust towards the Local Authority regarding this matter. 

If any County Councillor votes to support the proposed budget in its current form, they would be supporting plans for residual waste to processed and be stored at Abermule, despite the previous commitments made. I have urged the Council Cabinet member, Cllr Jackie Charlton, to remove the proposed proposal from the forthcoming budget.”