Recycling Rates Rise Again

The latest recycling figures for Wales show that Caerphilly has once again increased the amount of waste that is reused, recycled or composted – thanks to the efforts of ‘green’ residents across the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Figures for the 12 months up to the end of September 2016, the most current data available, show that Caerphilly County Borough Council reused, recycled or composted a massive 65% of all waste collected. Specifically for the months July-September 2016 this figure increased to 67%. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member Cllr Nigel George said, “We certainly welcome these latest recycling figures and would like to say a big thank you to all residents across our area who are doing their bit to help us reach the ambitious recycling targets that we are set. There’s still work to do, but by continuing to work together we can further boost our recycling rates and help Caerphilly continue to be one of the greenest places in Wales”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council also recently reintroduced weekly garden waste recycling collections, after the service operated on a ‘request only’ basis through the winter months. This period of time allowed the council to purchase a new fleet of specialist ‘twin-pack’ collection vehicles, which now allow the council to separate food and garden waste within the same vehicle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The separated food waste is now treated using the Welsh Government’s preferred method, Anaerobic Digestion, which is a cleaner method and results in the generation of electricity. Previously it was processed through ‘in vessel composting’. Garden waste collected continues to be composted. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Weekly kerbside garden waste collections allow residents to recycle materials such as grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, weeds, small shrubs and dead flowers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​