Cardiff Council was questioned last year about council workers mixing separated recycling together after the local authority brought in its new sack-sort recycling scheme
Claire Elliott and Wales Online readers
14:52, 05 Sep 2025
Bin Collections
Wales Online readers are frustrated to hear that more than a year after complaints first emerged, Cardiff Council has admitted it is still occasionally mixing separated recycling together in bin lorries.
The issue was first spotted when residents filmed council workers combining recycling, despite the city’s new sack-sort scheme which requires households to separate materials into coloured sacks and caddies. At the time, the council blamed problems with new recycling lorries, saying general waste vehicles were sometimes used instead.
Now, after a fresh video of the practice appeared on social media, the council has confirmed it still happens “on occasion”.
Fairwater resident Rahim Mustafa, who filmed one such incident, said: “It’s not a reflection of the workers. It’s just something that people are concerned by.”
Cardiff Council insists the system is working, pointing to an increase in recycling performance from 60% to 64% in 2024/25. Officials say when materials are combined, they are later separated by a re-processor, so “the integrity of the recycling is not compromised”.
A council spokesperson said: “The improvement in the quality of recycling collected through the new system is significant, and we would like to thank residents for adapting so quickly. Residents are doing a fantastic job. Separating recyclables into the containers provided is resulting in less contamination.”
But for residents like Rahim, watching carefully sorted recycling being thrown into the same lorry leaves many wondering what the point of the system really is.
Commenter Docksboys says: “They’ve always done it for years and years. Imagine trying to implement a recycling system in a city when you don’t even have the basics like enough trucks or staff? It’s just like the cycle lanes and 20mph. Rushed through and badly planned.”
Dm68 writes: “This is a classic case of ‘do as I say not as I do’. Why is anyone surprised by this any more? They cut the number of collections and introduced the whole silly plan in the first place on the basis that they would do it all properly. If anyone stopped paying Council Tax they would come down on them like a ton of bricks within days!”
Hufeniapoeth agrees: “There’s no uniform practice across Wales for recycling. Who knows what happens to it when it gets to the depot, let alone when thrown into the refuse lorry. I’m not shocked by anything local councils do anymore. They operate on their own rules, but heaven help you if a homeowner mixes up their recyclables.”
Whoneedssleep thinks: “Recycling used to be a very easy procedure that saved the council time and money. However the new system has resulted in less recyclable waste being sent to the tip or the incinerator.”
TheBrigadier replies: “Merthyr council has the highest recycling rate on record and the money earned from the sale of recycling helps to pay for recycling staff.”
GlyndwrApIfor1 points out: “Don’t blame the council, the new system seems to be generally fit for purpose. Blame the Welsh Government who keep recommending ever more onerous mandatory recycling targets.”
Nutjob retorts: “If the new system is fit for purpose then why has Lamby Way closed the recycling plant? Why is the council giving work away to Leicester and Caerphilly where Cardiff council have got rid of agency staff in their recycling plant and the plant is shut? Why are the public recycling when Cardiff city council is NOT? The council has wasted 10 million pounds on the split back wagons that are not fit for purpose. They have to bring in an outside company on Wednesdays to empty the cardboard that always gets jammed in the back of the lorries.”
Misterbarlow states: “Whoever thought of the sacks idea literally needs sacking. They are a nightmare.”
Jacijoxx just says: “We want our wheelie bins back.”
Do you think your local recycling system works well, or could it be better? Have your say in our comments section.