Cardiff Council calls on residents to help stop gulls ripping open rubbish bags

Cardiff residents are being asked to wash out their recyclable food containers and put all food waste in their brown food caddy to stop seagulls and other animals ripping open bags and scattering waste across the city.

Cardiff Council is introducing a system which will see street-cleaning crews working behind waste collectors on afternoon shifts to pick up any spilled waste.

However, if bags have been incorrectly left out and gulls have been allowed to scatter rubbish across the street, the extra time it takes to clean up may make it impossible for the crews to service a complete collection round.

The council is therefore asking residents for help to do what they can to keep the gulls and other animals away from their waste.

Councillor Michael Michael said: "The more help we can get from residents the better.

"Most people do a great job. They recognise the mess that can be caused if food goes into a plastic bag by the side of the street and not into the food caddies which are designed to keep animals out.

"We ask all residents to, please, wash out your recyclable items before you put them into the green bags."

Food waste - including cooked food - should go into the brown food caddy to stop the seagulls ripping open the bags while plastics, tins and glass should be rinsed out.

Plans are being worked up to re-instate fortnightly, green, garden-waste collections as part of the kerbside service in early July. In the meantime all residents will continue to receive a one-off green waste collection during June.

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