A number of changes at Carmarthenshire’s recycling centres have been given the go ahead in a bid to improve the county’s recycling rate.

It includes a ban on commercial waste; residency checks, a permit system for vans, the introduction of black bag sorting; and revised opening hours.

The recommendations have been approved by the council’s Executive Board having already received support from the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee.

It is hoped that these measures will reduce the amount of commercial waste being disposed of at the recycling centres, as well as the amount of waste from neighbouring counties, and help recover recyclable waste from black bags - all of which are having a detrimental effect on the county’s overall recycling rate.

Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said at the meeting: “This should have a positive effect on what we want to achieve. I want to thank everyone in Carmarthenshire for everything they do to help recycle but the black bag waste does affect our figures.”

The ban on commercial waste, residency checks and changes to opening hours will come into effect on April 1. Residents will be asked to show their driving license, council tax bill or a utility bill (no older than three months) to prove they live in Carmarthenshire; and all commercial waste must be disposed of at either Nantycaws transfer station in Carmarthen or another private licensed site.

Residents that want to dispose of their household waste in small or large vans will need to apply to the council for a permit to do so, however this does not come into force until June and further details will be released nearer the time.

Black bag sorting on site will take effect from October.

It is projected that these measures will increase the county’s recycling rate by 4.1% as well as save £275,000 which can be used for other recycling initiatives.

Carmarthenshire is currently recycling around 61% of its waste, but must increase this figure in order to meet the Welsh Government’s statutory target of 64% for 2019/20; or risk large financial penalties.

There are four household waste recycling centres in Carmarthenshire in Whitland, Nantycaws (Carmarthen), Wernddu (Ammanford) and Trostre (Llanelli).

Read the full report or view the webcast on the council’s website carmarthenshire.gov.wales.