A year after Cardiff Council introduced its new waste collection system in Splott and Adamsdown, frustration is growing among residents. The scheme, which aims to boost recycling rates, was designed to help the city reach 70% recycling by 2025 and achieve zero waste by 2050 — targets set by the Welsh Government’s ‘Towards Zero Waste’ strategy.
But many locals say the system is not working. Instead of a cleaner and more efficient recycling process, they report overflowing bins, scattered rubbish, and an increase in pests, making their street dirtier than ever.
Splott Residents Push Back: “It’s Worse Than Before”
Jane Taylor, one of the residents, says Splott is now a dirty place to be, “There is more rubbish on the street now than when we had to recycle separately. I don’t think some of the residents are doing it correctly. “
Other locals have voiced similar concerns, complaining about missed collections, confusion over sorting waste, and pests infestation.
Alison Noonan lives in Janet Street, “I have had pest control out a number of times,” She says, “They (the rats) play in the garden; they play out the front. The neighbours have all had it. You are never more than two minutes away from a rat!”
From Low to High: Cardiff’s Recycling Targets
Cardiff has long struggled with waste management. A year ago, the city had the lowest recycling rate in Wales, managing to recycle just 58% of its waste. In response, the council introduced the new ‘sack sort’ recycling scheme. The council claims that under this new system, 96% of presented recyclables can now be processed, compared to 70% under the previous co-mingled green bag collection scheme. Officials argue that the change has reduced contamination from 30% to just 4%, cutting down on non-recyclable waste and street litter caused by animals scavenging through trash bags.
Council Defends the Scheme
In response to the criticism, Cardiff Council maintains that the new system is necessary for meeting national waste reduction targets. Officials insist that the ‘sack sort’ method is already showing progress in many parts of the city and will lead to long-term benefits.
“The rollout of the new recycling scheme is designed to help residents recycle as much household waste as possible,” a council spokesperson said. The council has also addressed complaints about collection delays, stating that new dual-compartment waste vehicles have been introduced to keep different recycling streams separate.
What’s next?
This system is now being rolled out in other areas of the city including Canton and Pontcanna.
With a zero-waste deadline set for 2050, the big question is whether Cardiff’s new waste collection system can truly deliver the cleaner, greener future it promises—or if frustrations will continue.