August 24, 2026 - 187 views
People and businesses across Conwy are being asked for their views on how the county's waste and recycling services should develop over the next five years.
Conwy County Borough Council has launched a consultation on its Draft Waste and Resource Strategy 2026–2031, which sets out the proposed direction for waste and recycling services in the county.
The consultation also gives residents and businesses an opportunity to comment specifically on the recycling services they currently receive.
The council says feedback will be used to review the draft strategy before it is presented to Cabinet for approval. If approved, the strategy will provide the framework for Conwy's waste and recycling services for the next five years.
The consultation runs from Monday 24 August until Monday 5 October 2026.
Residents and businesses can view the draft strategy and submit their views online or in person at Coed Pella, Colwyn Bay.
Paper copies can also be requested from Conwy's Environment, Roads and Facilities Advice Team by emailing erf@conwy.gov.uk or calling 01492 575337.
The consultation comes as recycling continues to play a major role in Wales' efforts to reduce waste and move towards a more circular economy.
The latest Welsh Government figures show that 68.4% of local authority municipal waste in Wales was reused, recycled or composted in 2024-25, up from 66.6% the previous year.
However, that figure was below the Welsh Government's statutory target of 70% for 2024-25. Twelve of Wales' 22 local authorities met or exceeded the target – including Conwy.
Conwy's own latest environmental report records a recycling, reuse and composting rate of 70% in 2024-25. The council says the introduction of its Trolibocs recycling collection system and the move to four-weekly residual waste collections have contributed to improvements in recycling performance.
Conwy operates a weekly kerbside-sort recycling service, with residents separating different recyclable materials rather than placing them all together. Food waste is collected weekly, while dry recycling includes materials such as glass, cardboard, metals, plastics and food and drink cartons.
The latest figures show that Conwy's recycling rate has risen significantly over the longer term, from around 60% in the mid-2010s to around 70% today.
Wales' overall performance represents a dramatic change from the situation several decades ago.
Welsh Government statistics show that the national recycling rate was around 5% in the late 1990s. In 2024-25, only 0.7% of municipal waste was sent to landfill, compared with around 95% before devolution.
New workplace recycling regulations have also been introduced, requiring businesses, public bodies and third-sector organisations to separate key recyclable materials.
Welsh Government figures show that, following the introduction of the workplace measures, an additional 8,187 tonnes of recyclable material was collected from workplaces by local authorities – an increase of 42% compared with the previous year.
Despite the progress, the latest figures also show there is still work to do if Wales is to reach its recycling ambitions, with the national rate remaining below the 70% statutory target in 2024-25.
That makes the decisions taken by individual councils particularly important, as local collection systems and the way waste is managed can have a significant impact on recycling rates.
For Conwy, the new five-year strategy will therefore help determine how the county's services develop at a time when expectations around recycling, waste reduction and environmental responsibility continue to increase.
The council is now encouraging residents and businesses to have their say before the consultation closes on 5 October.
