A planned community litter clean-up in Newport, Gwent, was halted after council officials stated that volunteers could not use their existing bin bags. The volunteers, who have been tidying their neighborhood for years, were informed that they must use specific red branded bags from the national environment charity Keep Wales Tidy. However, when the group requested these approved bags, they received no response from the charity, leading to the abandonment of the clean-up effort.
Paul Murphy, founder of the local group Pride in Pill, explained that the volunteers had previously been asked by the council to use red bags, and had subsequently purchased approximately 2,000 non-branded red bags. These bags are now deemed unacceptable by the council's waste department, who insist on the branded Keep Wales Tidy bags. Murphy stated that he had been trying to contact Keep Wales Tidy for a week without success and that the council had not provided a contact number for the organization.
Murphy expressed concern that if bag supplies are restricted, it could limit the scope of future clean-up operations. He noted that if they are only able to obtain a limited number of approved bags, they may have to reduce the amount of litter they can collect.
The council defended its policy, stating that it values the work of volunteers and has supported over 150 clean-ups since 2022. However, they explained that the use of 'approved' bin bags helps differentiate waste collected by community groups from illegally dumped rubbish. Residents have criticized the council's stance online, labeling it as 'petty' and suggesting that officials should prioritize more significant issues.
Despite the setback, the Pride in Pill volunteers indicated they would proceed with using their existing red bags if they did not receive a response from Keep Wales Tidy.
