COUNCILLORS in Wrexham are set to discuss plans to reduce bin collections to once every three weeks.

It comes following a warning that sticking with the current fortnightly service for black bins could cost Wrexham Council more than £800,000.

The local authority said it was currently not on target to meet the Welsh Government’s goal for 70 per cent of waste to be recycled by 2025.

As a result, it has predicted it could be hit with a hefty fine of over £500,000.

Coupled with an increase in the number of houses being built in the county borough, the council’s deputy leader said failing to change the frequency could have significant financial implications.

In a report, Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for environment, said: “We still have some way to go to be sure that the 70 per cent target by 2025 is met.

“Our current forecasts suggest that without further service changes we are unlikely to meet these statutory targets.

“The Welsh Government have applied fines for failure to meet the targets and indications are that these will continue.

“A number of local authorities across Wales have already made significant service changes to meet the challenge.

“One quarter of councils have shifted to reduced collections frequency, some have moved to monthly collections and others are currently considering this.

“If we are to meet our pledge as part of the carbon reduction action plan then we must introduce a change to our waste collection frequency.”

The council currently collects waste from approximately 62,000 households in Wrexham.

It said the move to three weekly collections would help to reduce carbon emissions after it recently declared a climate emergency.

The change in frequency was considered as part of last year’s budget plans, but not pursued.

Cllr Bithell said other schemes would also need to be explored to meet the authority’s pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030.

He added: “It is apparent that a service change alone is unlikely to deliver the recycling levels we require.

“The council has determined that an action plan providing for carbon reduction be provided.

“We have introduced a behaviour change working group and continue to work with partners, groups and schools.

“This work must continue and there can be no let up on our combined efforts to meet this goal.”

The proposals will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s environment scrutiny committee on Wednesday.