The number of community recycling sites and rural storage point bins in Mid Wales will be reduced following a decision by the county council’s cabinet.
Councillor John Powell, cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: "Since the roll-out of the kerbside recycling all households now have their recycling collected from the kerbside and this has resulted in a duplication of service which is not cost effective.
"The cost of operating these community sites is more than £300,000 a year and as with other councils in Wales their use has reduced since the introduction of kerbside recycling.
"We will now review the provision of these sites across the county following a detailed assessment on an area by area basis."
Will increase incidences of flying tipping
The Countryside Alliance has reacted with concern, saying the move could increase incidences of fly tipping.
Rachel Evans, Countryside Alliance director for Wales, said: "It is disappointing that the council has taken this decision which most definitely puts those living in remote parts of the county at a disadvantage, having to travel further to dispose of their waste.
"This is not forgetting, of course, the population over the age of 64 which makes up 29.5% of the Powys population who will find it more difficult to recycle.
"If we couple this with those who are not inclined to recycle waste, it will only increase the incidences of fly tipping.
"There were 804 incidences of fly tipping cleared by the local authority between 2014 – 2015 at a cost of £62,155 to the public purse.
"But there are many more incidences as this figure does not include rubbish dumped on private land, such as rail networks and farmland, when the landowner has to cover the cost of clearing the mess themselves.
"I think that this is a regrettable decision by Powys County Council – and one that landowners and the environment will have to pay for in the next 12 months and beyond."
