Council steps up beach cleaning as litter concerns mount

Swansea Council has brought in a team of 13 seasonal beach cleaners to deal with growing litter issues along the city’s coastline as visitor numbers rise over the summer months.

The move comes as part of a wider effort to keep beaches, parks, and public toilets clean—something the Council says already costs around £6.5 million annually.

Cllr Cyril Anderson said the extra staff are there to support existing teams but stressed the responsibility shouldn’t fall entirely on the Council.

“All we’re asking is that visitors use common sense. If bins are full, don’t just dump your rubbish—take it home.”

Public toilets in busy beach locations are being cleaned regularly, but misuse remains a concern.

“It only takes one person to ruin it for everyone else,” he said.

Of particular worry are discarded disposable barbecues, which can retain heat for hours if buried in sand and have caused serious injuries in recent years. The Council has installed 15 clearly marked red bins on popular beaches to safely dispose of BBQs.

Beyond litter patrols, seasonal staff are also maintaining Changing Places accessible toilet facilities and clearing sand and weeds from footpaths and roads.

With several of Swansea’s beaches holding Blue Flag status, the Council says keeping them clean is vital to sustaining tourism and public safety.

➡️ Learn more about Swansea’s beaches: swansea.gov.uk/beaches ➡️ Explore local parks and green spaces: swansea.gov.uk/parks

#beachCleaners #beaches #BlueFlag #CllrCyrilAnderson #disposableBbq #litter #Parks #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

Swansea Council trials smart bin sensors to improve rural waste collection

Swansea Council has begun trialling smart bin sensors in remote communities as part of a pilot scheme aimed at reducing unnecessary journeys and keeping streets cleaner. The sensors, which use low-power wireless technology, alert cleansing staff when bins are full — allowing teams to prioritise locations that need attention and avoid visiting those that don’t.

Cllr Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “The sensors are a win-win all round. For residents there’s less chance of them finding unsightly overflowing bins, and for staff it means their time can be focussed on tackling bin and litter problems where they’re most needed. It’s early days because we’re still piloting the scheme, but it’s looking very promising.”

The system uses LoRaWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) technology to transmit data from battery-powered sensors, which can last up to eight years. The pilot is focused on rural locations such as Gower and Port Eynon, where bin usage varies significantly depending on weather and seasonal tourism.

Stuart Willingale, Cleansing Strategy Team Leader, said: “Some of our bins are sited in fairly remote locations in places like Gower, which are a considerable distance away from where our staff are based. The data tells us when our Cleansing Teams need to visit a location to empty a bin — or when not to. This saves us time our teams can better use in other locations and tackling other cleansing issues. It also reduces our environmental impact of driving to a location only to be met with an empty bin.”

The pilot is being supported by Welsh Government funding, and early results suggest the system could help reduce fuel use, improve response times, and cut down on overflowing bins — especially in areas with fluctuating visitor numbers.

#binSensors #CllrCyrilAnderson #Gower #IoT #litter #litterBin #LoraWan #PortEynon #sensors #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

Swansea residents embrace new soft plastics recycling trial with over five tonnes already collected

Run by Swansea Council, the scheme allows around 20,000 households to recycle plastic bags and wrapping directly from home, including items such as crisp packets, bread bags and frozen food packaging. Until now, recycling these materials was only possible by taking them to designated supermarket drop-off points.

The trial is operating in 15 communities where household waste is collected on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and will continue until December 2025.

“So far, it’s estimated that more than five tonnes of plastic bags and wrapping have been collected from homes within the trial areas,” the Council confirmed in a recent update.

Cllr Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community, said: “Swansea is currently performing very well in terms of recycling, with the majority of residents making use of all the kerbside recycling collection services provided by the Council. We know there’s an appetite for residents to recycle more of their household waste, particularly soft plastic items like carrier bags, which currently get put in black bags.

“The trial will allow the Council to understand how plastic bags and wrapping can be included in existing kerbside recycling collections for all households in the future.”

Residents participating in the trial are encouraged to use blue recycling bags designated for soft plastics.

#CllrCyrilAnderson #kerbsideCollection #Recycling #softPlastic #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

New machine helps city council’s war on weeds

The machine, dubbed the “Weedo Weed Ripper,” is the latest addition to the council’s Cleansing Waste Operative Team (CWOT) arsenal, and it’s already making a visible impact in communities like Three Crosses.

The new equipment, a Westermann WKB660, is powered by a Honda GXV160 engine and features 12 braided wire spinning brushes capable of removing thick weeds and moss from hard surfaces in a single pass. Its eco-friendly design requires no chemicals or water, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional weed control methods.

Cllr Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community Services, praised the machine’s early success: “The CWOT team is continuing to do a great job, responding to requests from local councillors who help point them in the direction of areas that need attention. This new kit makes their work more efficient and less physically demanding.”

The weed ripper complements the council’s broader £2 million annual commitment to tackling litter, fly-tipping, and overgrowth across Swansea. The CWOT initiative, launched over two years ago, has already addressed more than 1,000 weeding and litter hotspots. Teams have cleared pavements, steps, and alleyways, removed tonnes of vegetation, and restored access to footpaths that had been overtaken by nature.

The CWOT’s efforts are part of a wider network of cleansing services that includes the newly formed Long Roads Cleansing Team. This group focuses on litter and debris along major roads and traffic islands—areas often neglected due to safety concerns and lack of pedestrian access. In one recent operation between Glais and Birchgrove, the team collected half a tonne of rubbish, much of it believed to have been discarded by passing motorists.

Cllr Anderson emphasized the importance of public cooperation: “The council is doing its best to keep Swansea clean and litter-free, but we need the public to play their part and look after their local environment.”

The introduction of the weed ripper is also a response to the physical demands placed on cleansing staff. With many tasks requiring manual labor in challenging conditions, the new machine is expected to reduce strain and improve productivity. Each set of brushes on the WKB660 can clear up to 700 square meters, and the machine’s adjustable height ensures even wear and optimal performance over time.

Residents are encouraged to report overgrown or littered areas to their local councillors, who can then coordinate with CWOT for targeted clean-up efforts. The council hopes that continued investment in innovative tools and dedicated teams will not only improve the city’s appearance but also foster a stronger sense of community pride.

As Swansea continues to modernize its approach to urban maintenance, the weed ripper stands as a symbol of the city’s commitment to cleaner, greener public spaces.

#CllrCyrilAnderson #CWOT #Environment #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #weeds

Swansea Marina ‘sea bin’ trial aims to help keep marina water clean

The technology is being trialled, thanks to Swansea Council teaming up with environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy.

Sea bins are bucket-shaped devices that rise and fall with the tide, collecting floating litter and debris.

As water is drawn in by a pump, it passes through a catch bag which then traps the waste.

Clean water is pumped back out, while litter and debris are safely contained for proper disposal.

Powered 24 hours a day, the sea bin at Swansea Marina has a capacity of 30 litres to collect waste.

Cllr Cyril Anderson, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “It would be a lot better if people didn’t irresponsibly drop their rubbish in the first place, but the trial of this sea bin shows we’re continuing to be innovative in all we do to keep our city and waterways as clean as possible.

“We’re delighted to have partnered with Keep Wales Tidy on the introduction of this technology and will continue to explore its effectiveness as part of the ongoing trial.

“Research shows about 80% of marine litter originates from land-based sources, so it’s important we do all we can to protect our marine environment and encourage people to either use bins or take their waste home with them.”

The initiative is being funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The council say the sea bin is being regularly monitored to investigate what it collects and to check for any unintended impacts or interactions with wildlife.

#CllrCyrilAnderson #Environment #KeepWalesTidy #litter #SeaBin #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaMarina

Council says it’s taking ‘positive action’ to improve waste and recycling collections

Swansea Council says its recruiting more waste staff and ensuring back-up staff are available to plug any gaps in the teams. This includes having more agency staff available and other resources to bolster the workforce.

The move follows complaints from residents about missed and delayed household waste and recycling kerbside collections.

The council says the extra staff will be in place within the next few weeks. In the meantime, if there are any missed collections residents are being asked to leave their waste on the kerbside as the council will return the next working day or as soon as possible after.

Cllr Cyril Anderson, the council’s Cabinet Member for Community, said, “There have been some operational problems with our waste collections recently and we understand the problems this causes for residents.

“I want to apologise to everybody who has been affected by missed waste collections and to reassure our residents that we are determined to improve the service as quickly as possible.

“We are recruiting significant numbers of new staff into our waste team and intend to supplement them with even further resources in the coming weeks and months to ensure collections can be completed on the stated day.

“It may take a few weeks to introduce the extra resources, so if your bin collection is missed, please leave them on the kerbside and we’ll do everything we can to collect them the next working day or as soon as possible.

“We will continue to update residents, and we are grateful for their patience and understanding during the next few weeks.”

#blackBags #CllrCyrilAnderson #kerbsideCollection #Recycling #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

CWOT teams clean-up Swansea’s streets

Swansea Council’s CWOT – or their less snappily titled Cleansing Ward Operative Teams – have been helping residents keep their communities looking neat and tidy, visiting more than 1,000 weeding and litter hotspots over the last year.

The popular team has visited every community targeting overgrowth, uncovering footpaths that have succumbed to nature, as well as clearing litter and ensuring street and road signs are clean and can be read more easily.

The Council launched the CWOT initiative more than two years ago so that teams could carry out enhanced cleansing work that are not part of the regular cleansing activities operating in the city.

The council says it forms part of its continuing commitment to the people of Swansea, working side by side with them to keep their communities clean by responding positively to their priorities.

The public play their part by reporting issues to their local councillor who then contacts the CWOT service. Every ward in Swansea has received multiple visits over the last year.

Sites tackled in the last year have resulted in freshly cleaned pavements and steps, cut-back of overgrowth and hundreds of tonnes of vegetation removed, along with lanes and alleys between houses and off the beaten track being brought back to life.

Cyril Anderson, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “The CWOT service is a real asset to the Council, going above and beyond expectations to keep our communities neat and tidy.

“The work the CWOT do to spruce up neighbourhoods makes everyone feel better about the place where they live and encourages others to play their part too by not dropping litter or leaving dog mess behind when they’re out with their pet.”

He added: “The CWOT initiative is all part of the Council’s £2m a year commitment to tackling litter and fly-tipping in our neighbourhoods. Local councillors supported by local residents are our eyes and ears for the CWOT initiative, and the feedback so far has been extremely positive.”

The council added that if you think there’s an area in your ward the CWOT can assist with, then let your local councillor know so that they can submit the work to the team for completion on their next visit.

#CllrCyrilAnderson #CWOT #Environment #litter #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

Roadside litter tackled by new team in Swansea

Swansea Council say they are looking at clearing tonnes of rubbish along main roads in the city, much of which is thought to have been thrown from car windows by irresponsible motorists.

The new ‘Long Roads Cleansing Team’ is tasked with targeting roads that generally link between communities and more often than not, do not feature pavements, making it difficult to safely carry out normal litter picking duties.

The team will also tackle and remove vegetation and general detritus which gathers around the many traffic islands and roundabouts in Swansea and complements the existing Highways Team that already carries out similar functions on Swansea’s faster and higher risk roads and dual carriageways.

One road to already benefit from the new service is between Glais and Birchgrove, where around half a tonne of litter has been retrieved from the road, grass verges and hedges.

Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community said: “The council carries out daily and weekly litter picks all across the city, particularly in busy public areas.

“The routes we are targeting as part of this latest litter clearance scheme are not generally considered as walking routes, so the assumption is that some motorists are throwing these items from their car window when passing through the area.

“The lack of pavements on these routes make it more difficult to carry out regular litter picking. That’s why we have created this new team, which will also be accompanied by traffic management vehicles and signs that can assist in warning passing motorists about their presence on the road.

“We’ve recently completed litter clearance along a road between Glais and Birchgrove and I was shocked with the amount of litter that has been collected.

“The council is doing its best to keep Swansea clean and litter free but we need the public to play their part and look after their local environment.”

The latest clean-up project follows on from the successful introduction of the Cleansing Waste Operatives Teams (CWOT) which sees teams going into communities every week, targeting areas of overgrown vegetation, clearing pavements and steps as well as tidying up lanes.

Cllr Anderson, said: “We made a commitment to residents that we would make Swansea a better, cleaner place to live. We have put significant investment (£2million) into this and all these schemes help promote Swansea as a clean city and a place residents can be proud of.”

#CllrCyrilAnderson #Environment #litter #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

Council adds eight new refuse collection lorries to fleet

The delivery of the latest vehicles takes the Council’s total investment to more than £8million and has seen a total of 35 new waste collection vehicles on the streets of Swansea during the last 12 months.

Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community in Swansea Council, said: “When we approved our annual budget for 2024/25, we committed to investing more than £8 million towards fleet replacement and I’m delighted this is now taking place.

“These collection vehicles travel vast distances over the lifetime of our vehicle contracts.

“It’s important that we ensure our fleet of waste collection vehicles are renewed and can provide us with the reliability we need to provide weekly collections for residents in the city.”

The vehicles were provided by family-run business NTM.

Martin Jones, NTM Area Sales Manager said: “It’s fantastic to see Swansea Council’s continued investment in their waste collection fleet, we’re committed to providing quality, reliable solutions to support the essential services Swansea provide to the city.

“We’re delighted to see the new vehicles in operation, and we look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting them in the future.”

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#CllrCyrilAnderson #refuseCollection #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #wasteCollection

Council calls on public to join seasonal beach cleaning team

Swansea Council is recruiting 13 seasonal Cleansing Operatives whose job it will be to help keep some of our most popular tourist spots spic and span in the spring and summer months.

The six-month stint runs from April to September, the busiest time of year for visits to places like Langland, Swansea Bay Caswell Bay and Port Eynon. Applicants need to get their bids in by February 24.

The recruitment drive is part of Swansea Council’s commitment to keeping summer destinations clean and tidy for locals and visitors alike and follows a successful campaign last year when the council launched the seasonal recruitment scheme for the first time.

Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said everyone needs to play their part by putting litter in the bin or by taking it home with them.

“We’ve got some of the finest beauty spots in all of Wales and we want to keep them that way during the summer. The successful applicants will play their part while also being able to enjoy the scenery themselves as they work.

“We launched the seasonal cleansing scheme last year and had a lots of interest from members of the public who wanted to be part of the team. We hope that this year, there will be similar interest in coming on board and assisting in keeping our wonderful beaches clean and tidy.”

The Council has also called on beach visitors to play their part and use litter bins provided or take their rubbish home when leaving beach areas.

Cllr Anderson added: “The council is doing its bit to keep them clean by recruiting more staff to cover spring and summer evenings through the busy Easter to late summer period. But we want visitors to do the same, especially when they take disposable BBQ bins to the beach.

“Disposable BBQ bins can be a real safety risk to children, especially if people bury them in the sand. Whatever time of year it is, if you’re out and about don’t dump litter. Take it home with you.”

The job advert is open on the council’s website until 24 February 2025.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#beach #beachClean #CllrCyrilAnderson #Environment #Recycling #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil