FORTNIGHTLY black bin bag collections were given the green light by cabinet members on Monday (September 9).

As of next month, black bag and glass waste will be collected every two weeks.

A commitment to further consider the arrangements for dealing with sanitary waste was also approved, following concerns raised by a number of members at the council’s environment overview and scrutiny committee last Thursday (September 5).

The plans were endorsed by the committee on the basis of that commitment.

The fortnightly collections are to be introduced from October 14 and will apply to all households, apart from some flats and multi occupancy properties that do not have food and glass collections.

These will continue to have weekly black bag collections until alternative arrangements can be made.

Food waste and orange bags will continue to be collected once a week.

The move is expected to reduce costs by an estimated ÂŁ500,000 a year, as the council looks to makes savings in excess of ÂŁ8.6m over the next three years.

Cabinet member for environment and regulatory services Councillor Huw George said that changes had to be made in order to meet tough Welsh Government recycling targets and to make financial savings.

“If we do not meet recycling targets, the council will face tough financial penalties which it is likely will be passed on to Council tax payers,” he said.

“Fortnightly black bag collections will divert more rubbish into recycling bringing environmental benefits and enabling Pembrokeshire to meet its future Welsh Government statutory recycling target.”

But some members of the environment overview and scrutiny committee expressed concern over the impact on people living in flats and HMOs, as well as those needing to dispose of sanitary waste.

Householders can find out more by entering their postcode into the find my nearest facility at www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Over the coming weeks every household in the county will also receive a card informing them of how the changes will affect them.

Collection days will remain unchanged although collection times could alter.

Pembrokeshire County Council is the last authority in Wales to move to fortnightly bin collections.