Wales may be a small country, but when it comes to recycling, we punch way above our weight. We’re already the third best recycling nation in the world, and now we’re calling on everyone in Wales to join together to help make us first!
This week marks recycling week (20th-26th September) and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is joining the recycle for Wales campaign and encouraging its residents to Be Mighty and ‘step it up’ for recycling and climate change!
Recycling plays an essential role in tackling climate change and it’s a simple thing that everyone can do to help make a real impact. The last 18 months have definitely brought many challenges and RCT households and residents have been making sure that, come what may, they have recycled and that’s great news, not just for our County Borough but for Wales and the wider environment.
Over 34,400 tonnes of recycling has been collected from the kerbside in RCT since January 2021, which includes over 7,600 tonnes of food waste – that’s over 8,600 recycling vehicles (4tonnes) full of recyclable materials!
Recycling is now the norm in Wales, with over 92% of us recycling regularly as part of our daily routine. We’re recycling fruit and vegetable peelings, eggshells, tea bags and plate scrapings in our food caddies; recycling from every room including the bathroom and bedroom, and recycling tricky items such as empty aerosols.
However, almost half of us are still not recycling everything we can, so if we’re to help Wales reach the coveted top spot we need to do even more.
As part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to climate change and recycling, it recently announced a change to the way it collects green waste recycling - The introduction of new sustainable and reusable green sacks will see the Council reduce its overall plastic usage by around 3Million Clear bags annually. In addition to this the Council is asking residents to register for the service so that the crews can avoid unnecessary journeys and reduce the Council’s overall carbon footprint.
Residents can register for the FREE service quick and easily online at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/BrandNewBag. If you do not have access to online services you can call 01443 425001, between 08.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Residents will then receive their TWO FREE re-usable sacks to start green waste recycling from 1st November.
Extra/replacement bags are available but will be subject to a £3 charge per bag. This charge covers the cost of the bag only.
In 2020 the Council collected over 8,200 tonnes of green waste from residents!
Over the next week the Council’s promotional trailer will be heading to the following locations from 10am:
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Date/Time
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Location
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Wednesday 22nd September
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Asda, Tonypandy
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Thursday 23rd September
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Asda, Aberdare
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Friday 24th September
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Tesco, Upper Boat, Pontypridd
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The team will be available to offer general recycling advice and give residents the chance to see the new, reusable green waste bag.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure & Heritage Services, said: “I would like to thank RCT residents for continuing to recycle throughout this period, their efforts have been fantastic. If we keep this up, we will hit the Welsh Governments target of 70% well before 2024/25 – well done RCT!
“I know that the last 18 months have been exceptionally difficult for households across the County in adjusting to this ‘new way of life’ and I’m incredibly proud of our mighty residents for continuing to recycle, despite these unprecedented challenges.
“As a Council we do our best to make recycling easy and accessible for all – with online recycling bag requests and deliveries, and a simple one clear bag system for dry recyclables. All of our Community Recycling Centres have re-opened to the public and I’d like to thank staff across our recycling and waste service for their continued efforts throughout this time. Keep up the good work.
“We should continue to be proud of our recycling efforts, but there is still more we can do. We know our residents care about climate change and want to do all they can to make Wales and Rhondda Cynon Taf a cleaner and greener place. Together we can help to get Wales to number one and protect the planet by recycling more of the right things, every time.”
Recycling bags are available at key distribution points or they can be ordered for delivery online at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/bags.
The Council now needs your help to ensure that we keep recycling to the same standards that we always have and show off our mighty skills – many residents are having a clear out and may find a few items that they need to get rid of. BUT if it’s not recyclable at the kerbside, please take these items to your nearest Community Recycling Centre.
ALL Community Recycling Centres are open 7 days a week, from 8am-7.30pm and now allow vans and trailers alongside cars to dispose of items. A number of strict guidelines are in place for site visitors and these are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future – more details are available at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/CRCsRules.
Tissues, wipes - cleaning or personals, face masks, gloves or any other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be placed in your black bag waste – if anyone in your household has symptoms of coronavirus these items should also be double bagged and put out after 72 hours.
Residents are reminded that they can put out an unlimited number of clear recycling bags, but black bag/wheelie bin waste is limited to 2 black bags or 1 wheelie bin (lid must close).
For more details and tips on recycling in RCT, visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/recycling or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
To learn more about the mighty mission visit www.walesrecycles.org.uk, look out for the ads on TV, on buses and billboards and social media across Wales or join the conversation using the hashtag #mightyrecyclers
Here's some MIGHTY tips to get Wales to number one
- Recycling our food waste is one of the easiest ways to give our recycling rate a big boost. Put any food waste – however small the amount – in your food waste caddy to ensure it gets collected every week
- Recycling doesn’t stop at the kitchen door – remember to recycle from other rooms too. You’d be amazed just how much bathroom waste such as empty shampoo, conditioner, hand soap and shower gel bottles can be recycled
- Most people know that water bottles, cans, and paper and card can be recycled, but don’t forget that you can also recycle more unusual items such as empty aerosols. And if you’re not sure what you can and can’t recycle visit the Wales Recycles Recycling Locator
- Squash cans, pots, tubs and trays to save space in your recycling bag, bin, box or caddy. And give them a quick rinse before recycling them – there’s no need to use running water, a quick swill in the washing up bowl will do
- If Wales is going to get to number one, we all have to play our part. That means spreading the mighty mission on social media by sharing your recycling pics and tips using the #mightyrecyclers hashtag.
Posted on 20/09/2021