Torfaen Residents Thanked For Christmas Recycling Efforts

Torfaen residents recycled 670 tonnes of rubbish at the kerbside over the Christmas holidays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The amount of waste collected for recycling was up by 43 per cent compared to a normal collection period, while the amount of general waste put out for collection was only up by five per cent, far lower than expected for the time of year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The rise in recycling follows the introduction of smaller bins in November 2015 which were introduced to meet strict targets requiring councils in Wales to recycle 70 per cent of waste by 2025. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Torfaen currently recycles 64.61 per cent of its waste, meaning that it is already on course to meet its 2020 target of 64 per cent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor John Cunningham, executive member for neighbourhood services, said: “This year residents really stepped it up and we have seen huge increases in recycling, while there has only been a small increase in the amount of general waste put out at the kerbside. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“While many people were uncertain when we introduced smaller bins in 2015, the recycling rates speak for themselves, and I would like to thank residents for their recycling efforts which all contribute to a cleaner, greener Torfaen.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​