11. 9. Short Debate: The Challenge of Recycling For Businesses and Residents in Rural Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:44 pm on 25 January 2017.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 6:44, 25 January 2017

No, absolutely. I was just making a general point that there are very good bring sites now, and they have to be taken into consideration. But you’re quite right—businesses obviously can’t use those.

So, despite the challenges that I think Powys face, they are making excellent progress on recycling, and, again, it’s seen a significant increase in its recycling rate from the 59.1 per cent that was reported last year.

The Welsh Government provides support to local authorities, including those that have large rural areas, through our collaborative change programme. Our objective is to help authorities improve recycling rates through the provision of excellent services, not just to residents, but to businesses as well. I do meet with local authorities regularly to discuss the challenges and opportunities that they face in relation to waste. Next Monday I’ll be chairing a meeting of the waste ministerial programme board to discuss these challenges further. What we need to do is translate our impressive municipal recycling rates into local jobs and opportunities for training and community regeneration. That’s the circular economy that we talk about. And I have to say that your video proved that point more than anything, that, if there aren’t facilities in Powys for those recyclable materials, we’re not going to achieve that circular economy. So, I would suggest that that’s perhaps something that could be looked at.

All local authorities are part of this optimistic, life-enhancing agenda, which I think is being delivered for and by the people and communities of Wales. I’m really proud to celebrate the fact that Wales is a world leader in this area. I mentioned Powys’s very good recycling rates, so I’ll challenge Russell George: as a councillor, take credit for it, but, equally, you are part of the solution, and I appreciate what you’re saying about a backbencher, but it is really important that Powys council do provide these facilities.