THE Welsh Liberal Democrat group on Powys council is calling for an urgent re-consideration of the authority’s policy on plastic recycling.
The call follows widespread confusion about the issue among local residents which has led to many boxes of plastic waste being rejected by the kerbside collection teams across the county.
Councillor James Gibson-Watt, the leader of the Lib Dem group, said: "It is clear that many people in Powys are totally confused about which types of plastic will and will not be collected by the council for recycling. "Although leaflets were issued to households last November to explain the position, the message clearly has not got through very well.
"There is an urgent need to do two things – re-issue the explanatory leaflet to every household in Powys again; and quickly re-examine how we can expand the range of plastics that can be recycled. If we carry on as we are we are going to see more fly-tipping and burning of plastic in the countryside and more going in to landfill. Both of these are damaging to the environment.
"More waste going to landfill also costs the council more and diverts funding from other services, which are already under severe financial strain.
"I have already contacted the cabinet member responsible for waste management to make these suggestions and I hope he takes action to address this serious problem."