UNIONS have slammed plans for community safety wardens in south Wales to be diverted from tackling anti-social behaviour to policing what goes into residents’ recycling bins.

Unison and GMB urged Caerphilly County Borough Council today to think again over “flawed” proposals to order wardens to make house-to-house checks as soon as next week.

They warned that residents are unaware of what is expected of them regarding recycling and are more worried about crime and anti-social issues.

Wardens have also not been offered extra training and the council already employs better paid waste staff to help residents improve recycling, the unions added.

Unison’s Lianne Dallimore said wardens are “already busy people and now the council will make their workload impossible,” while GMB’s Neil Funnell accused councillors of ignoring the concerns of unions and workers.

Both unions acknowledged recycling is a key priority but stressed it “should not be at the cost of the safety and well-being of the workforce and communities.”

The council was contacted for comment.