The leader of Carmarthenshire County Council said she felt it was human nature not to like change while talking about a new waste collection system which will be rolled out across the county.

“Nobody likes change – none of us do,” said Council leader, Cllr Linda Evans at a meeting of cabinet. Referring to the collection system scheduled to start in the west of Carmarthenshire this autumn she said: “It is a change. People will get used to the new system.”

Under this new system residents will separate more recyclable items to put in sacks and other containers than they do now.

The Plaid leader urged residents to read letters which the authority will send out and not throw them in the bin.

The system that’ll be rolled out to Carmarthenshire’s 92,000 households has been introduced in most other council areas in Wales and is expected to increase recycling rates.

People will be able to put out the following every week:

– A reusable red sack for cans, plastics, and cartons – A reusable orange sack for cardboard – A reusable blue sack for paper – A red plastic bag for plastic bags and wrapping – A black box for glass – A food bin for food waste – A small reusable white sack for household batteries

The council will continue to collect up to three black bags of non-recyclable waste per household every three weeks and there will be no changes to garden waste or hygiene and nappy waste collections.

Householders will receive a set number of sacks, bags, and containers but will have to buy their own black bags. Glass jars and bottles must be empty and rinsed.

Waste pet food can be put in food bins while pet faeces can be double-bagged and put in black bags for collection.

Households of six or more residents and those with particular medical or infirmity needs which produce a larger amount of waste may receive extra recycling bags/food waste bags and put out one extra black bag for collection.

A new waste and recycling policy approved at the September 21 cabinet meeting said the council would educate residents about the changes and enforcement would only be used against those who didn’t adhere to the guidance after being told about it.

People can use a postcode checker on the council’s website to check if the changes affect their home this year.

Residents can continue to use household waste recycling centres at Trostre, Llanelli; Nantycaws, near Carmarthen; Wernddu, near Ammanford; and at Whitland.

Wales’ 22 councils were expected to recycle and compost 70% of their municipal waste in 2025 and 12, including Carmarthenshire, met or exceeded the target last year.

Cabinet members accepted change wasn’t easy with Cllr Emlyn Schiavone saying he’d heard comments from his own family about the new system.

Cllr Schiavone said: “With every change people do put up their defences and say: ‘Why do we have to do this?’ But it’s basically just a different way of putting out the recycling.”