Problem
Residents of neighbouring constituencies Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council have long struggled with accessing their nearest Reuse and Recycling Centre (RRC) due to the position of the local authorities’ administrative boundaries. While recycling facilities existed in both areas, some residents had to travel significantly further to reach a designated site within their own county, rather than using a more conveniently located centre just across the boundary. This restriction led to increased travel times, inconvenience for residents, and potential reductions in recycling rates.
Recognising the opportunity to enhance service accessibility and increase reuse and recycling participation, both councils sought a collaborative solution that would reduce administrative barriers and improve public convenience.
Solution
In April 2022, Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council entered a joint contract with Bryson Recycling to allow residents to access their most convenient RRC, regardless of local authority borders. This collaboration aimed to make recycling more convenient for residents and supports Wales’ ambitious reuse and recycling targets by increasing the volume of waste diverted for reuse.
Bryson Recycling operates five RRCs across the two local authority areas: Abergele and Mochdre in Conwy, and Denbigh, Rhyl and Ruthin in Denbighshire.
The partnership offers benefits to residents through the following improvements:
- Flexible access: Conwy and Denbighshire residents can now use any RRC if it’s closer or more convenient, based on daily routines.
- Enhanced facilities: Sites at Denbigh and Ruthin accept a wide range of materials for reuse or recycling, making it easy for residents to dispose of waste responsibly.
- Improved usability: New signage, earlier opening hours, and better access, have improved the overall user experience.
- Expanded reuse opportunities: The ‘Choose to Reuse’ Shop at Rhyl RRC, a collaboration between Bryson Recycling, Denbighshire County Council and St David’s Hospice, officially opened in May 2022. Supported through Welsh Government’s Circular Economy Fund, the shop extends the life of reusable household items while generating valuable income for charity. The partnership has also allowed the expansion of the ‘Choose to Reuse’ Shop at Mochdre RRC.
- Booking system: Both councils use a joint online booking system to monitor the ‘net flow’ of visits to measure the flow of waste in both directions and ensure there are no unintended financial impacts. As part of the agreement, if the ‘net flow’ in one direction exceeds a set threshold, an agreed charge per visit can be applied.
Impact
Since the introduction of the joint contract and facility improvements, residents of Conwy and Denbighshire have reported greater ease in recycling their waste, leading to increased participation in reuse and recycling. Key benefits include:
- Reduction in distances travelled: The ability to use the most conveniently located RRC reduces unnecessary travel, cutting emissions and promoting efficiency.
- Financial impact: For Conwy and Denbighshire, the net flow of waste has been balanced so neither council has needed to raise a charge on the other. Cost savings have been generated through economies of scale and efficiencies through the use of shared resources.
- Increase in reuse: In 2023/24, the combined reuse total for Conwy and Denbighshire reached 1,758 tonnes, up from 1,701 tonnes in 2022/23. Across the three years since the collaboration, over 5,280 tonnes of material have been reused, helping keep valuable resources in circulation. The ‘Choose to Reuse’ Shop at Mochdre RRC has diverted over three tonnes a year of DIY materials (such as bricks, paint, tiles and wood) from the residual waste stream.
- Progress towards Welsh Government’s goals: The collaboration aligns with Wales’ ambitious waste and recycling targets, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a leader in the circular economy.
By removing administrative barriers and improving public service accessibility, Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council have demonstrated how collaboration can drive meaningful improvements in waste management, making reuse and recycling easier and more effective for residents.