Wales recycling rate climbs to 65% as new five‑bag system launches

Wales' overall recycling rate rose to 65.4%, surpassing the Welsh Government’s target of 64% and keeping the nation in third place globally. A “Be Mighty. Recycle.” campaign, funded by the Welsh Government, urges students and the public to maintain high recycling levels during the Christmas period in hopes of reaching the top global rank.

Carmarthenshire Council announced a shift from a single blue recycling bag to a five‑coloured bag system. Starting later this year, residents in the western part of the county will sort recyclables into separate reusable sacks for paper, cardboard, metals/plastics, film/plastic bags, and household batteries, while food‑waste and black‑bag collections remain unchanged. Weekly collection frequencies will continue, and the rollout will expand to the rest of the county after the initial phase.