0:00:14 > 0:00:16It is the end of September and villages here are
0:00:16 > 0:00:17putting out the bins.
0:00:17 > 0:00:18Are you all right?
0:00:18 > 0:00:19Yeah.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21It's going to be a nightmare, isn't it?
0:00:21 > 0:00:28They have been told that things are changing.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32The bin is full to the brim after a fortnight.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37So, four weeks and we are going to be struggling.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Their rubbish will be collected once a month now,
0:00:39 > 0:00:40rather than every fortnight.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42It has not gone down well.
0:00:42 > 0:00:43Two weeks you can just about manage,
0:00:43 > 0:00:44but four weeks?
0:00:44 > 0:00:46No way.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Local authorities are under pressure to increase the amount they recycle.
0:00:50 > 0:00:56So, one council has decided to take radical action.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00We are not providing a refuge collection system.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03We need to think more of a recycling collection system.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Some think it is a step too far.
0:01:05 > 0:01:06It is awful.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10There is just a build up of rubbish everywhere.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12What people are doing because they can't get rid
0:01:12 > 0:01:14of their rubbish any more.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16We follow families as they find their own ways
0:01:16 > 0:01:20through the new restrictions.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23I have just lit the fire now and the rubbish is about to burn.
0:01:23 > 0:01:30Here comes the smoke.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Tonight we ask are councils about to get tougher with all of us?
0:01:33 > 0:01:36And we reveal how their own methods are coming under scrutiny.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38You've got a rejection rate of about 21%.
0:01:38 > 0:01:44That is a high figure.
0:01:44 > 0:01:54It is 7am.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56The Betws?Yn Rhos crew is out to pick up the bins.
0:01:56 > 0:02:02The last time for four weeks.
0:02:02 > 0:02:03Roast dinner tonight for tea.
0:02:03 > 0:02:04Yeah, let's put some pork in.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Lovely.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09We gave two families some cameras to record how they get
0:02:09 > 0:02:15on with the new regime.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19I don't know how we're going to do it is to be honest.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Fiona Roberts and her son Junior are part of a big family.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26We are a family of six.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28Junior has three sisters and there are two pets.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31They have had permission for two bends from the council.
0:02:31 > 0:02:32They doubt they will be enough.
0:02:32 > 0:02:38It is going to be terrible for us.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41I think we are going to have to perhaps burn or...
0:02:41 > 0:02:42Do not think it will work.
0:02:42 > 0:02:43It is too long.
0:02:43 > 0:02:52No.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Over on the other side of the village are the MacPhersons.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58A family of five.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00They are slightly more confident they can manage.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02They are already getting the kids in line.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04That is about a couple of days worth.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06That is quite a bit of rubbish there.
0:03:06 > 0:03:07They are kids, aren't they?
0:03:07 > 0:03:08Family of five.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10We recycle as much as we can, don't we?
0:03:10 > 0:03:14I think it is going to mean we have to take several trips to the tip
0:03:14 > 0:03:16to get rid of the rubbish.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17We will give it a go.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19We will give it the best we can.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22We have no choice in the matter.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25The council is trialling these four weekly collections in a fifth
0:03:25 > 0:03:29of Conwy's households.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Surveys have found that almost half of what people put
0:03:33 > 0:03:37in their bins can be recycled.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40The council think people will have to recycle more when they see
0:03:40 > 0:03:49when they see their bins filling up.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51We will be back to find out.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55It was not so long ago that we've just put all of rubbish in a big bin
0:03:55 > 0:03:57and it got carted off to the local tip.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01But these holes in the ground have been filling up fast.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04The Welsh Government have been taxing councils for every ton
0:04:04 > 0:04:05they dump in them.
0:04:05 > 0:04:06This is actually recycling.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08This is the material that has come out of the re-cycling
0:04:08 > 0:04:09bags and been collected.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Most of it is recyclable.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Some of it is not.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16The team now, they are sorting through the material,
0:04:16 > 0:04:21pulling out the recyclables.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24The things that can't be recycled then go along the end of the line
0:04:24 > 0:04:26and go off the belt.
0:04:26 > 0:04:36Recycling is now a big industry.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43In Cynon Taf alone, 170 people are employed together and sort out
0:04:43 > 0:04:44the household waste.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Last year, we have 60% recycling which was up by quite a lot
0:04:47 > 0:04:48on the previous year.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51So far this year from April to August we have 67.4%.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55We're hoping at some stage this year, we will touch the 70%
0:04:55 > 0:05:03which is the target for 24, 25.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Almost half of Welsh councils, including Cynon Taf, ask people
0:05:06 > 0:05:08to put their recycling in one mixed bag.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09It is known as combing.
0:05:09 > 0:05:16The rest ask people to sort out the rubbish before it is collected.
0:05:16 > 0:05:17That is called kerb-side sort.
0:05:17 > 0:05:27That is what they do in Conwy, where our families live.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42In Betws?Yn Rhos, the MacPhersons can see their black bin filling up,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44so they are thinking hard about exactly where
0:05:44 > 0:05:45to put their waste.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47OK, I am just going to dispose of these.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49They've seen better days.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Instead of putting them in the bin outside, I'm going to put them
0:05:52 > 0:05:54into the green garden waste recycling to save room.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57They can go in there along with the rest of the other flowers
0:05:57 > 0:06:01that have gone in there.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03The Roberts have found it more of a struggle.
0:06:03 > 0:06:04It is getting worse already, isn't it?
0:06:04 > 0:06:10It is hard work.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Junior is worrying that their bins are filling up too fast.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17The recycling is getting full.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21This is the second week of the bins.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24This one is almost full.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27We've got another two weeks to go.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Junior and his mother say they are doing their bit,
0:06:30 > 0:06:31but the sisters aren't.
0:06:31 > 0:06:38I'm always getting things out of the bin.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Yeah, it always seems like a bit of a one-sided thing.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42The girls are like, just put it in the bin.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44We have to sort through.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49It is quite annoying.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52A recent survey suggests that people think there is not enough
0:06:52 > 0:06:55information about how to recycle and they are confused by the fact
0:06:55 > 0:06:57that some councils in Wales make you sort out recycling more
0:06:57 > 0:07:01thoroughly than others.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Refuse disposal has definitely become more sophisticated.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07What seems to annoy people most though is when the system is changed
0:07:07 > 0:07:09as it has been in Newport.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11We've got the normal bin there.
0:07:11 > 0:07:12That is your standard waste.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16General waste.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20You have got another bin for your garden waste.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22You have got the blue box which is for paper waste.
0:07:22 > 0:07:31The green box is for recycling.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33A new red bag has been introduced, replacing the green one
0:07:33 > 0:07:41and they have changed what goes into the boxes.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Businessman Tom is so frustrated about
0:07:43 > 0:07:45the new system he has started a petition.
0:07:45 > 0:07:46Nobody has an issue with recycling.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48It is just the way it is done.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Other areas, they have only two or three boxes.
0:07:51 > 0:07:52Two or three bins.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54It is simple and people have no problem with that.
0:07:54 > 0:08:00It is just introducing more containers and more containers.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02A very simple system is to bends and two boxes.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07The Cardiff system.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Very simple system.
0:08:11 > 0:08:16Newport council insists that there system is very simple.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20It has only been changed because more things
0:08:20 > 0:08:21can be recycled now.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24They say of all the materials were collected in one bag
0:08:24 > 0:08:27like in some other authorities, it would cost them a lot more
0:08:27 > 0:08:28to sort out.
0:08:28 > 0:08:35And result in a much lower quality product.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38We get the best possible price for our materials coming out
0:08:38 > 0:08:40of here because they are very clean.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42They are clearly separated and they are pure.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45The one thing you do not want is something like glass getting
0:08:45 > 0:08:46into your paper.
0:08:46 > 0:08:47The paper Mills will just reject it.
0:08:47 > 0:08:53They will have to send it somewhere else.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Our whole business model, it is likely built on quality
0:08:55 > 0:08:58materials coming out of here.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00The result is almost 100% of the stuff that is collected
0:09:00 > 0:09:07being successfully sold on.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Newport has been a pioneer in waste saving but it's recycling rates have
0:09:10 > 0:09:13fallen behind most other Welsh councils.
0:09:13 > 0:09:19Is their state-of-the-art system too complicated?
0:09:19 > 0:09:20The Welsh local government Association represents
0:09:20 > 0:09:24all councils in Wales.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26We want our public to recycle as much as possible
0:09:26 > 0:09:28and use our service.
0:09:28 > 0:09:38We've got to make it as easy for them.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46On the other hand, industry want a really clean, quality product
0:09:46 > 0:09:47with minimal sorting.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49What the councils will do is decide where they put
0:09:49 > 0:09:50themselves in the spectrum.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52There is pros and cons in every system.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Newport and others must now report to Welsh Government and explain why
0:09:55 > 0:10:05they shouldn't be fined for missing last year's recycling target of 58%.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Back in Conwy, the MacPhersons and the Roberts are now half way
0:10:09 > 0:10:11in and are facing some challenges.
0:10:11 > 0:10:12There we go.
0:10:12 > 0:10:19This is how we're going to dispose of all this packaging.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22We're on the third week and one bin is full and one bill
0:10:22 > 0:10:23is three quarters full.
0:10:23 > 0:10:24The plastic one.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Pretty full.
0:10:26 > 0:10:36Full to the brim, really.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41As you can see, we have pretty much filled the plastic and metals up.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46Here is our recycling for the week.
0:10:46 > 0:10:52Rosie has also filmed something more disturbing.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54I have just pulled over in a lay-by.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56This is the road coming into the village.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Sadly, I have just spotted fly-tipping.
0:10:59 > 0:11:08Which I think is going to be a sign of things to come.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Nearly all the ten councils that use a simpler system are getting
0:11:13 > 0:11:16better recycling rates than the kerb-side sort method.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21We have discovered that they have a problem.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24We have obtained figures showing that on average, out of every seven
0:11:24 > 0:11:28tonnes of recycling collected, one is being rejected.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31The rejected material gets incinerated here in this waste
0:11:31 > 0:11:41to energy plant in Cardiff or it ends up in landfill.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Here in Cynon Taf, one in every five tonnes are rejected
0:11:58 > 0:11:59because of so-called contamination.
0:11:59 > 0:12:00It is what you call contaminants.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Contaminants could be food waste which dirty the material or it
0:12:03 > 0:12:05could be a crisp packet, which is something we cannot recycle.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Stick it on the back because it is contaminated.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10They have the highest rejection rate of any council,
0:12:10 > 0:12:12so they are coming down hard on people who put the wrong
0:12:12 > 0:12:14things in their bags.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16You have got a rejection rate of about 21%.
0:12:16 > 0:12:17Are you concerned about that?
0:12:17 > 0:12:18It is a high figure.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21It is a high figure, but obviously a lot of that contamination
0:12:21 > 0:12:27is non-recyclable materials.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30We do and we are going into an awareness campaign where we
0:12:30 > 0:12:33try to educate the residence even more so we can reduce that further.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35Ultimately, we try and make the system as simple as possible
0:12:35 > 0:12:36for our residents.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38Welsh Government told us that they were concerned
0:12:38 > 0:12:40about the level of rejected recycling which is why
0:12:40 > 0:12:46they are urging all councils to use kerb-side sort.
0:12:46 > 0:12:54Cynon Taf insist though that councils should be left to decide
0:12:54 > 0:12:56to decide for themselves and the Welsh Local Government
0:12:56 > 0:12:57Association agreed that.
0:12:57 > 0:12:58Every council has the responsibility to collect and decide
0:13:00 > 0:13:01on its own waste.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04So, they will come up with a system which is right, they
0:13:04 > 0:13:05believe, for the area.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10There are pros and cons with every single service.
0:13:10 > 0:13:16In Conwy, the council's collecting the recycling each week as normal.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19In Junior's rubbish bins we noticed things that shouldn't be there.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22So, he agreed to come with us to learn more about the dos
0:13:22 > 0:13:27and don'ts of managing your waste.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32In a sign of how some councils are clamping down, people
0:13:32 > 0:13:36people arriving here with black bags and are not allowed to dump them.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Unless they go through them first with a supervisor.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44Junior is about to find out where they have been going wrong.
0:13:44 > 0:13:50We have got a lot of items that can be recycled.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Plastic bags, cardboard cartons, food packaging.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Any fabrics come anything like this, straight into the household waste.
0:13:55 > 0:13:56These are a nuisance.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58We have to burn a lot of times.
0:13:58 > 0:14:04They go straight into the general waste.
0:14:04 > 0:14:11We get a lot of polystyrene takeaway boxes.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13They have to go into the household waste because they cannot
0:14:13 > 0:14:14be recycled.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17It is just a case of getting into a routine of it.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20It makes you think, doesn't it?
0:14:20 > 0:14:23It is not hard, but saying that I've got three sisters
0:14:23 > 0:14:24and they don't care.
0:14:24 > 0:14:25They just leave it to me.
0:14:25 > 0:14:33It is getting the whole household the routine.
0:14:33 > 0:14:39It all adds up.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41We have gone as far as we can go with this.
0:14:41 > 0:14:47We've taken all the recyclables out.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49It's shows the difference it makes on how much more room
0:14:49 > 0:14:50you would have.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53In fact, they had got the amount down by 70%.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57Junior is now allowed to tip the rest.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58That was a very interesting
0:14:58 > 0:14:59experience for me.
0:14:59 > 0:15:00Yes.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Why?
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Because it's made me learn just how much you can recycle and how much
0:15:07 > 0:15:09is actually available for you to do.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12You know, I think a lot of the time it's what people
0:15:12 > 0:15:14don't know so they're not going to bother doing it.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16He wasn't the only one having his rubbish examined.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Michelle Coombes is a regular here.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20What does she think about the new monthly collection?
0:15:20 > 0:15:21I think it's awful.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24There's just a build-up of rubbish everywhere.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26What people are having, because they can't get rid
0:15:26 > 0:15:28of their rubbish any more.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30It's going to cause rats and it's going to cause everything now.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32It's really bad, it really is.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35People's gardens are just getting full of bags, seagulls are coming
0:15:35 > 0:15:36and ripping all the bags open.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38And you're only two and a half weeks in?
0:15:38 > 0:15:39Yes.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Is that why you have brought the extra stuff down
0:15:42 > 0:15:43here, is it?
0:15:43 > 0:15:44Yes, I come every day.
0:15:44 > 0:15:45Every day?
0:15:45 > 0:15:46Yes.
0:15:46 > 0:15:47You're producing a lot of rubbish.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49Well, yes.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51You've got children as well and your wheelie bin is full,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53what do you do with it?
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Yes, she's in here, I would say, most days,
0:15:55 > 0:16:02around about quarter past five, and as you can see
0:16:02 > 0:16:04from her emptying that bag,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06probably 70% of the items in that bag was recycling.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08So people really could be doing a lot more,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10they don't know it, do they?
0:16:10 > 0:16:13No, I'm not sure if they don't know it, it's more whether they can be
0:16:13 > 0:16:14bothered to recycle.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Michelle lives in Kinmel Bay nearby.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18We wanted to find out why she wasn't recycling enough.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21You can't recycle any more if your bin is full and you've
0:16:21 > 0:16:22already recycled, can you?
0:16:22 > 0:16:25The bins are all full.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Recycled everything, cans, bottles, plastics,
0:16:28 > 0:16:30cardboard, and they're all full.
0:16:30 > 0:16:35So what do you do then?
0:16:35 > 0:16:38She lives here with five children, at least a dozen dogs
0:16:38 > 0:16:41and various other animals.
0:16:41 > 0:16:47Take that one outside.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50I'll have to put another bag in the bin.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52That's not going to fit outside now, is it?
0:16:52 > 0:16:54No, I will have to do a tip run again.
0:16:54 > 0:16:55I know, yes.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58They're cutting back that much now that it's all going worse,
0:16:58 > 0:16:59everything is going worse.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01And they complain about rubbish and people dumping things
0:17:01 > 0:17:04and what have you, well they are going to get more
0:17:04 > 0:17:05of it now, aren't they?
0:17:05 > 0:17:07People are going to be dumping it everywhere because they can't
0:17:07 > 0:17:09get rid of the rubbish.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Michelle could ask the council for more recycling boxes
0:17:11 > 0:17:17and another wheelie bin, given the size of the household.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Even if I have two bins, it wouldn't solve my problem
0:17:20 > 0:17:22because that would be full in a couple of days
0:17:22 > 0:17:25and you've still got the bags so it wouldn't solve anything.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28It's the fact they are not emptying them regular.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Obviously we appreciate they are a household
0:17:31 > 0:17:34with lots of people in, and we will meet that
0:17:34 > 0:17:36by providing two bins, and pick up two bins
0:17:36 > 0:17:38at the time of collection.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42But whenever you get change, you get complaints.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45When we examined the bin, the big black bin which households
0:17:45 > 0:17:54use for waste, recyclates were in there to the tune of almost 40, 50%.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59That represented a cost to this council of ?1.6 million, which is
0:17:59 > 0:18:01absurd and could not be justified.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Some suspect councils are changing waste collections
0:18:03 > 0:18:04only to save money.
0:18:04 > 0:18:10Conwy denies this.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12This is something that, without the challenge of austerity,
0:18:12 > 0:18:13we would have done anyway.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Conwy prides itself on being green.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Conwy prides itself on not wasting money and this is a classic example
0:18:18 > 0:18:22of wasting public money.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25However able or willing they are to recycle,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27all our families have noticed just how rubbish
0:18:27 > 0:18:31their lives can generate.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40On Saturday night, the MacPhersons always order in.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42That means more packaging.
0:18:42 > 0:18:43Where does this go?
0:18:43 > 0:18:44Does this go in with cans?
0:18:44 > 0:18:50It is, it's aluminium, isn't it?
0:18:55 > 0:18:59I think before, we just used to bag it all up and put it back in the bag
0:18:59 > 0:19:03it was delivered in, and put it in the bin I think.
0:19:03 > 0:19:08Looking harder at the latest government statistics,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11you could see that, despite Wales' success in raising recycling rates,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13councils handled more waste last year because Welsh households
0:19:13 > 0:19:17produced more rubbish.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22For one thing, the amount of packaging keeps increasing.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Over the last five years, the number of units of packaging
0:19:24 > 0:19:26for beauty products, for example, has gone
0:19:26 > 0:19:32up by 20% worldwide.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Junior's sisters, including Kelly, are using a lot of cosmetics now.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Now that my little sisters are growing, one is 18,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41nearly 19, and the other one has just turned 15 so she's
0:19:41 > 0:19:43into her make-up as well.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46At least some of the packaging can be recycled.
0:19:46 > 0:19:55That's empty, that needs to go in recycling.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58We go through a lot with our wipes and things we use, and everything
0:19:58 > 0:20:01has got plastic on it so it is hard to get into it.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03The number of units of packaging in most industries
0:20:03 > 0:20:05is increasing in the UK.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Even if we can recycle it all, can we and our
0:20:08 > 0:20:12councils keep up with it?
0:20:12 > 0:20:16We have seen an increase in waste since we've come out of recession.
0:20:16 > 0:20:22People are buying more, they are changing more products,
0:20:22 > 0:20:24and that's always a sign of wealth.
0:20:24 > 0:20:25There is still things the industry can do.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Whereas the councils have to work to statutory regimes,
0:20:28 > 0:20:29industry only has to have voluntary targets.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32They are doing their bit and there has been massive
0:20:32 > 0:20:34changes, but do councils think they can do more?
0:20:34 > 0:20:38The answer is yes.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40One of the biggest targets of criticism
0:20:40 > 0:20:42is the disposable coffee cup.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44We throw away hundreds of millions of them every year.
0:20:44 > 0:20:49They are made from paper and a layer of plastic.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Great for protecting hands from hot liquid but hard to recycle and
0:20:52 > 0:20:56end up in landfill or incinerators.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Campaigners are calling on the chains to do more, and
0:20:58 > 0:21:04one based in Cardiff already has.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07While a lot of cups are made with a plastic lining on the inside,
0:21:07 > 0:21:10this is made from a plant starch lining, which means
0:21:10 > 0:21:13it is compostable after about three months.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15The same what you find with a lot of places,
0:21:15 > 0:21:21the lid will be plastic, whereas this again
0:21:21 > 0:21:24is plant starch, which means it is compostable over time.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26It does mean it's a slightly reduced profit margin.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29Campaigners say the coffee chains should follow this example and also
0:21:29 > 0:21:33do more to encourage people to bring in their own reusable cups.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37So, why is the amount of packaging going up?
0:21:37 > 0:21:40And why isn't the industry doing something about it?
0:21:40 > 0:21:43The population has increased by 4% in the last five years
0:21:43 > 0:21:51so we all need more things.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53The majority of packaging really is doing, er, carrying
0:21:53 > 0:21:56information about the product, much of which is required by law,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58it is protecting the product, it's making sure with food that
0:21:58 > 0:22:00you've got sufficient shelf life and you don't end
0:22:00 > 0:22:02up wasting the food.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05And how does she defend the coffee cups that are so hard to recycle?
0:22:05 > 0:22:08More and more people want an on-the-go drink, they want to be
0:22:08 > 0:22:09able to have it immediately.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12We could turn the clock back, we could live like our grandparents
0:22:12 > 0:22:14did and we could make everything from scratch.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17We could actually make up a thermos flask of coffee in the morning,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20take it with us all day, not have food and drink
0:22:20 > 0:22:23on the go, but that's not the way society is going.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Jane's organisation works with several sectors
0:22:25 > 0:22:26of the packaging industry.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Could they do more?
0:22:29 > 0:22:31Always, and they do.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33They want to do more to improve packaging both
0:22:33 > 0:22:36environmentally and socially.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Back in Betws Yn Rhos, Junior is resorting to drastic
0:22:44 > 0:22:49methods to get rid of the Roberts' latest bag of waste.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53OK, so here I am in the back garden and I'm about to burn some rubbish
0:22:53 > 0:22:56to save on our recycling bin.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00Classic, polystyrene.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05We had a takeaway last night.
0:23:05 > 0:23:11And with us being a family of six, there's quite a bit in there.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I have just lit the fire and the rubbish is about to burn.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Here comes the smoke.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Look at that.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31That can't be healthy for the planet.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Burning polystyrene in the back garden is probably not
0:23:34 > 0:23:36what Conwy Council had in mind when they cut back
0:23:36 > 0:23:40on bin collections.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Nine times out of ten, when there's polystyrene out there,
0:23:43 > 0:23:49the smoke is really, really bad and it stinks as well.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58Meanwhile, the Coombes family are on their way
0:23:58 > 0:24:04to the tip yet again.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07It's the same drill when she arrives this time.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11Any black bags have to be taken over to the re-sort table.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15I'll take them over with you now.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21At this site, they've got much busier since the council moved
0:24:21 > 0:24:31the monthly black bin collections.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34The amount of general waste we do get in, our compactive figures
0:24:34 > 0:24:37are going through the roof, hence why we have been forced this,
0:24:37 > 0:24:38and it is working.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41But if more people are getting in their cars, where's
0:24:41 > 0:24:42the environmental benefit now?
0:24:42 > 0:24:45If people recycle more at home, it's going to make more room
0:24:45 > 0:24:48in their black bin and they are not going to have to come
0:24:48 > 0:24:49here that often.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Wales is now one of the best in Europe at recycling its rubbish,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55with 60% of municipal waste getting processed and sold on to companies
0:24:55 > 0:25:02who can use the paper, metal, glass and plastics we throw away.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04We have made huge strides in turning unwanted material back
0:25:04 > 0:25:07into resources, so it's the right thing to do and it's
0:25:07 > 0:25:13just a no-brainer.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15The Welsh government wants councils to recycle even more
0:25:15 > 0:25:18so the pressure is on.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Cynon Taf, for example, have just launched a new campaign
0:25:23 > 0:25:26to increase recycling
0:25:27 > 0:25:33and they are threatening fines.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Some wonder if it's just a way for a cash-strapped authority to get
0:25:38 > 0:25:41some extra money in, but the council says if it doesn't
0:25:41 > 0:25:44hit Welsh government targets, it will be fined, and the WLGA
0:25:44 > 0:25:50thinks we will see more councils resorting to fines in the future.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59It's now been a month, and the people of Betws?Yn Rhos can
0:25:59 > 0:26:00put out their wheelie bins at last.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Will they take all that, do you think?
0:26:02 > 0:26:07They've got no choice, have they?
0:26:07 > 0:26:09It is a month's waste, so...
0:26:09 > 0:26:10got no choice.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13The Roberts' bins aren't as full as they thought, but bear in mind
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Junior took one to the tip and they've been burning quite
0:26:16 > 0:26:18a bit, and there was an unexpected bonus when a bin lorry
0:26:18 > 0:26:20turned up by mistake.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22We actually had them emptied last week.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26It was the third week and they came very early.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30My sister noticed, she put them out quickly and they emptied the bins.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33You haven't been able to improve or increase the amount of recycling
0:26:33 > 0:26:36you've been doing then?
0:26:36 > 0:26:37No, not really, no, because we were doing
0:26:37 > 0:26:43the maximum before.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46When we went to the landfill, and we sorted out all the waste,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49I think if we hadn't have gone there, then I think we definitely
0:26:49 > 0:26:50will have struggled.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53It really does seem impossible, being a family of six.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58So, have you filled that bin, Rosie?
0:26:58 > 0:27:02It's pretty much full to the brim.
0:27:02 > 0:27:07But not bad, I don't think, after 28 days really.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10How have you found it on the whole?
0:27:10 > 0:27:11On the whole we have managed quite well.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15I'm surprised how well we have managed.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18The village of Betws?Yn Rhos has been part of an experiment affecting
0:27:18 > 0:27:2210,000 people in Conwy.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26How does the council think it's been going?
0:27:26 > 0:27:33It is very pleasing to tell you today that the initial data
0:27:33 > 0:27:35we are collecting on the impact of the first cycle of this
0:27:35 > 0:27:36is quite astounding.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39Recyclates have gone up, the community are getting involved.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43It is something I'm really proud to be identified with.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47At last, it's bin day.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Only a minority of the bins look overfull, so what's
0:27:51 > 0:27:53the crew noticed?
0:27:53 > 0:27:57Been quite light really.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01A lot less rubbish than what we expected.
0:28:02 > 0:28:07The council will give it a year before deciding what to do next,
0:28:07 > 0:28:12including the possibility of putting everyone in the county
0:28:12 > 0:28:14onto monthly collections.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17What is for sure is that people in Wales can expect councils to keep
0:28:17 > 0:28:19bearing down on waste.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22What do our villagers think about that?
0:28:22 > 0:28:27Family of six, I wouldn't have touched it, definitely.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30It's too long.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34I'm going to have to jump in the bin up and down to squash it all down.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38I'm going to have to jump in the bin up and down to squash it all down.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Would you still prefer to go back down to two weekly?
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Of course because it has been something we have had to concentrate
0:28:43 > 0:28:46on and very much been at the forefront of our minds,
0:28:46 > 0:28:50so yes, we much prefer the two weekly collection, but because we've
0:28:50 > 0:28:52been so careful, that's how we've managed so well,
0:28:52 > 0:28:53I think.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Do you think you can manage though with four weekly?
0:28:55 > 0:28:57We are going to have to.
0:28:57 > 0:28:58We've got no choice, have we?