YELLOW bags introduced to dispose of Monmouthshire residents’ incontinence waste are humiliating the elderly and vulnerable, it has been claimed.

Under its new waste shake-up, the county council has changed the colour of bags to dispose of cotton wool, wet wipes, nappy sacks and absorbent hygiene waste products from black ones with orange stickers.

But residents say the yellow variety are see-through and they are invading people’s privacy.

One Chepstow resident said: “On a Monday morning, I can look out of my window and identify everyone in my street who is incontinent by the yellow bags they are forced to use to dispose of this waste.

“Where is the dignity in forcing vulnerable, elderly people to do this? I am horrified that MCC is able to intrude on people’s privacy in this way.”

MP for Monmouth, David Davies, said: “I share the concerns about privacy issues, up until nowI have been putting the bags out in a standard dustbin.

So far nobody has objected to this.

“The landfill tax was brought in with the intention of making it harder each year for local authorities to put waste straight into landfill by making it increasingly expensive for them to do so. It may well be that things are now going too far.”

Chepstow town councillors said quite a number of residents have complained to them since the waste changes came into force on July 1.

Cllr Hilary Beach said: “The yellow bags are indiscreet. You can look along your street and see who is incontinent.”

Age Cymru’s head of policy and public affairs, Graeme Francis, said: “As a general rule, when any changes are introduced that will affect people’s lives, those changes need to be handled sensitively and with thought given to the impact that they will have on those members of society who will be affected.”

The council’s waste strategy and resources manager, Rachel Jowitt, said: “By introducing yellow bags Monmouthshire county is following industry and best practice. Yellow bags are recommended for this type of waste.

“We are fully aware of the sensitivities around this material and we will work with any resident if they want to find a discreet place for this waste to be collected – including bins, behind gates or back doors.”