This web site is specific to the South West Wales Regional Waste Plan and will provide you with the most up to date information regarding the plan review process and ultimately details of the final Regional Waste Plan for South West Wales.

Waste has become an issue of major importance and the specific objectives and targets set out in European Directives such as the Framework Directive on Waste and the Landfill Directive require radical changes in the way that we manage waste. To deliver the changes required in Wales in order to comply with European Legislation objectives and targets, the Welsh Assembly Government have produced Wise about Waste : The National Waste Strategy for Wales and Planning Policy Wales Technical Advice Note : 21 Waste (TAN 21). National policy and guidelines subscribe to the waste hierarchy, where the main emphasis is on promoting the reduction, re-use and recovery of waste and a move away form the disposal of waste through land filling. The proximity principle is also a key Welsh Assembly Government objective specifying that waste should be treated or disposed of as near to the source of origin as possible . Wise about Waste sets out specific targets for Wales regarding the methods of waste management and TAN 21 is intended to facilitate the introduction of a comprehensive, integrated and sustainable land use planning framework for waste management in Wales through the introduction of regional waste plans.

Waste planning is a strategic issue and TAN 21 has introduced 3 regional waste areas for Wales which requires joint voluntary arrangements between Authorities as well as a coordinating authority for each region. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council is the coordinating authority for South West Wales and the authorities within the region include Bridgend, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and the Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons National Park Authorities. Neath Port Talbot, as the coordinating authority are administering and managing the review of the Plan. Officers from each of the South West Wales authorities along with a cross section of representatives from other organisations form the Regional Technical Group (RTG) which provides direct input into producing the plan. The RTG report to a Regional Members Forum (RMF) which comprises nominated Councillors from each authority which has been set up to provide a democratic forum for agreeing the various stages of the plan and eventually the Regional Waste Plan for South West Wales which will be submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government for approval. Full details of the members of each of the above groups are available if you click onto Contacts. Furthermore, the roles and responsibilities of the key contributors to the regional waste plan are available if you click on to Terms of Reference.

This web site includes details of the agendas and minutes of RTG and RMF meetings and will provide details of the dates of the future meetings when these have been confirmed. The reports which form the initial stages of the process as well as the regional waste plan process will also be provided and can be downloaded as will the regional waste plan. A feedback form is also provided if you click on to Consultation and we would welcome any general comments in respect of the contents of this web site as well as specific comments on the review of the Regional Waste Plan.

Should you require any further information on the South West Wales Regional Waste Plan then you can contact the following from Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, the coordinating authority:

Geoff White – Head of Planning
Ceri Morris – Waste Plan Officer

Both of whom can be contacted via e –mail at wasteplan@neath-porttalbot.gov.uk