Waste Collections

Kerbside collections: non-recyclable residual waste

Residual household waste  – that is, rubbish that cannot be recycled or composted will now be collected in black bags, or the grey bags previously supplied by us (or a combination of both).

We no longer supply grey bags to residents, so once your current supply has been used up you will need to purchase your own black bags.

You may put out up to 3 bags of residual waste every 3 weeks, so it is important to recycle.

 

To ensure your bags are collected:

• Sign up for collection reminders (opens in a new tab), so you know when to put out your non-recyclable waste.
• Put your bags out by 6.30am on collection day, but not too early and please cover your bags to prevent attack by birds and animals.
• Only put out up to 3 bags and use standard size black bags only (up to 60 litres)
• Make sure they are not too heavy – there is a 15kg weight limit for the safety of our crews

Please don’t:

• Never put sharp objects in your bags, they can injure our crew.
• Do not put batteries, vapes or small WEEE in black bags, as they are a potential fire risk. Standard domestic batteries can be recycled by placing them in a separate clear plastic bag with your recycling containers. Other batteries, vapes and small WEEE may be recycled at our Waste and Recycling Centres.
• Do not put garden waste in black bags, please read the FAQs below.
• Do not put clinical waste in black bags, please read the FAQs below.

 

FAQs

1. What are the residual restrictions?

Households are able to put out a maximum of three residual grey / black bags every three weeks. We no longer supply grey bags to households, so once your current supply has been used up you will need to purchase your own black bags, standard 60 litre bags and each bag has a 15kg weight limit for the safety of our crews.

The grey bags were brought in to support the service change in 2019 and we are now reverting to household provided standard refuse sacks. If any households have unused grey bags these will continue to be accepted at the kerbside.

 

2. I have a large family, even though we recycle we still have more than 3 bags. How do I apply for an allowance for additional bags?

Larger households of 6 or more people can apply for additional non-recyclable allowance. If you have nappy waste, please apply for that separate collection service first. Find out more Larger Household Allowance Terms and Conditions.

 

3. Can I use a wheelie bin instead of a bag?

Only waste in a black or grey residual bag will be collected. If households wish to place their bags in a container for collection at the kerbside this will be accepted. We would request the containers are no larger than 240 litres to enable the operatives to manually empty the container.

 

4. Will I be able to put out more bags during the Christmas and New Year period?

Yes. We know that a combination of Christmas presents, visitors and changes in collection days will mean fuller residual bags during this period. We will allow properties to present one extra bag (black/ grey) at the kerbside during Christmas collection, the date of this collection can be found on your collection calendar. 

It is still important to recycle as much as possible though, including wrapping paper (test if it can be recycled by checking that it does not unfold again if you scrunch it up – it also can not include glitter or foil) and food waste such as turkey bones and vegetable peelings.

 

5. I have children who are in nappies/I use incontinence products where should I place these?

We provide a separate free collection for nappies / absorbent hygiene products, you can register for the AHP collection service to get these materials collected separately from your other waste and recycling on a fortnightly basis.

When you sign up you will be delivered a collection calendar as well as 2 rolls of purple bags. There is no limit as to how many of these bags you can put out every fortnight, but each bag has a 15kg weight limit for the safety of our crews.

 

6. I don’t know what I can and can’t recycle

You can use our waste and recycling search directory to find out what can be put in each container or to look up a specific item to find out which one it goes in.

 

7. I don’t have the containers, bags or boxes to allow me to recycle, where can I get them?

You can collect replacement bags and boxes from a number of locations around the county or those who are unable to access these locations will be able to make a request for delivery online. 

You can request more food waste bags by placing a note on your green food waste caddy on the collection day.

 

8. If I can’t put my garden waste in my grey/black bags, what should I do with it?

• Home composting
• Take your garden waste free of charge to one of our Waste and Recycling Centres
• Subscribe to our garden waste collection service

 

9. What should I do with my pet waste?

Any waste pet food can go in your food caddy.

If dog waste is collected while out walking your dog it can be disposed of in street litter bins.

If cat litter, dog or pet waste is accumulated at home, it can be placed into your residual (grey/black) bag to be disposed of at the kerbside but it will be part of your three bag allocation per three weekly collection. If you are close to your limit or would prefer to dispose of this waste more frequently then it can be disposed of in the general waste container at any of our Waste and Recycling Centres. If you are putting pet faeces in your black bag, please make sure it is double wrapped and mixed with other waste.

Options for alternative disposal methods include the use of pet waste digesters and wormeries.

 

10. We have a coal fire or stove so produce a large amount of ash, what do we do with it?

If a coal fire or stove is your main source of heating, the ashes from this can be placed in household provided black bags when the ashes are cooled, the bag should  be clearly marked “COAL ASH” and should contain nothing but ash or it will be left, the maximum weight of this bag can be 15kg. This will be collected on the same day as your usual residual non recyclable waste.

Please contact the Council on enquiries@pembrokeshire.gov.uk or 01437 764551 to make the Council aware that you will be placing Coal Ash Waste out alongside your residual non recyclable waste bags.

All other ashes (i.e. wood) should be placed in the black/grey residual waste bags once it has cooled. The bags have a maximum weight limit of 15kg.

 

11. How do I find out what day my grey/black bags will be collected?

Sign up for collection reminders (opens in a new tab), refer to your waste and recycling calendar or check your bin day, so you know when to put out your non-recyclable waste.

 

12. I have some grey bags left, what should I do with them?

You should continue to use up any existing grey bags as normal and then use household provided standard black bin bags (60litres) for non-recyclable waste moving forward. 

Remaining stock of grey bags for non recyclable waste will be available for collection by households from locations across Pembrokeshire from Tuesday, 19th September.

Grey bags (one roll per household) will be available from Waste and Recycling Centres (as part of a pre-booked WRC appointment), Leisure Centres, North Wing Reception at County Hall and Thornton. 

These collections are available while stocks last.

 

13. What size black bags should I use?

You can use black bags that are up to 60 litres and please make sure the bags are not too heavy – they should weigh no more than 15kg each when you put them out, 3 bags will be collected per three-weekly collection.

 

14. What about flats or areas which have communal waste collections?

All households have to comply with the residual waste restrictions which equates to 1 residual waste bag a week, and are working with flats and estates to remove communal waste collections these across the County where possible.

 

15. How to I reduce the risk of my residual non recycling bags smelling?

Using your lockable food waste caddy for any food waste and setting it out for collection every week will help avoid smells.

If anyone in your household uses nappies or other incontinence products, you can sign up for a FREE fortnightly Absorbent Hygiene Product (AHP) Collection Service.

Double bagging animal waste and putting it into the residual bag can also minimize the risk of smells.

 

16.  How are you going to enforce people putting out more than three residual bags?

Everyone has a duty to look after the waste they produce and follow the regulations set for their property. We understand that some will have questions or require further support. Any residents that disregard the three-bag policy,  will be visited by our waste advisors and where appropriate, fixed penalties will be applied.

 

17. Why are you cutting our services and making us pay for our own bin bags during a cost of living crisis?

We are not cutting services but reverting to the previous system of household provided residual bags, a system which is implemented by a number of authorities in Wales including Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, the Pembrokeshire County Council grey bags were provided to support the Waste Service Change in 2019.

We are continuing to collect more segregated streams of waste and recycling than ever, in line with Welsh Government Legislation. All of which has meant we are one of the top recycling authorities in the UK.

However a recent analysis of Residual Waste in Pembrokeshire has found that 48% of the residual bag could be recycled through our kerbside recycling schemes and our Waste and Recycling Centres, so we can still do more.

 

18. I am going to be away for my collection, will I be allowed to put out 6 grey / black bags on my next collection?

You will only be allowed to place 3 grey / black bags out for each collection unless there have an exemption agreement in place i.e. larger household. If you are away for your collection and your neighbour or a family/friend is unable to place your waste on the kerbside for collection then you can take your bags to your nearest Waste and Recycling Centre.

 

19. I have a question that is not answered here, what should I do?

Please email your query to wasteandrecycling@pembrokeshire.gov.uk