Return of recycling in the Dee Valley

 

Would you like to recycle your waste but currently feel frustrated as to how you can do this in the Dee Valley? Both the Welsh Govt. and Denbighshire CC trumpet their achievements in recycling, but this doesn’t match reality in the Dee Valley where we have been kept in the dark by DCC and our elected representatives. I would like to shine some light on this murky subject.

 

In 2007 DCC closed down our recycling site at Wenffrwd without public consultation. Understandably our county councillors (at the time) were very concerned and a report was presented to committee. It was reported that these actions would be taken to address the closure:

1] a search for a replacement site followed by a bid for capital funds to build a new facility.

2] a formal request to Wrexham CBC for access to the Plas Madoc recycling site.

3] free bulky waste collection service for LL20 postcode residents; plastic bottle recycling in market street car park and garden waste drop-off at the Pavilion on Saturday morning.

So, thirteen years have passed; what has DCC achieved?

1] No replacement site was ever found and facilities were closed in Carrog and Corwen. (plans are now in hand to build a new facility in Denbigh though).

2] negotiations with Wrexham CBC fizzled out without a conclusion and no formal agreement for access to Plas Madoc was obtained.

3] with covid restrictions we now have little or no recycling service in Llangollen, and Wrexham CBC has banned non-resident access to Plas Madoc.

I asked one of our County Councillors what officers were doing to address this problem and was told there was ‘no apetite’ to negotiate a deal with WCBC. This information was soon contradicted when I subsequently wrote to the Welsh Minister and to the Chief Executive of DCC. I was assured that DCC was more than willing to collaborate with its neighbouring authorities to negotiate cross border arrangements for such things as access to recycling sites.

Happy to know that common sense had prevailed, I waited a month or two expecting that an announcement would soon be made. I heard nothing, so I wrote to both Chief Executives (DCC and WCBC). I have never had a reply from DCC but I did get a response from WCBC. They are open to negotiation of an access agreement, but of course DCC will have to pay for it. Nothing will be set up before April 2021 I am told, and then it must be conditional on DCC allocating the necessary funds required.

Based on DCC’s performance over the last 13 years I have no confidence that they will be resolving this issue anytime soon; and because of their inability to communicate with their ratepayers, I think it would be foolish to wait until April next year to find out whether they intend to offer a full recycling facility in the Dee Valley. As a first step we should ask our County Councillors. (Messrs Timms and Mile) to get the free collection of bulky waste items for residents in LL20 reinstated. In order to push DCC into action we have to start a campaign. A petition is now open for your signature. If you want to see a proper recycling service in the Dee Valley please act now and sign the petition.

We call upon Denbighshire County Council to re-establish a proper recycling service in the Dee Valley as a matter of urgency. To negotiate access to the Plas Madoc recycling site (in Wrexham County Borough) for Denbighshire residents, and to provide a free waste collection service for bulky items for residents of the LL20 post code until such time as an agreement is reached with Wrexham County Borough Council.