Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council is wishing all its residents a ‘REally’ great Christmas and a greener New Year as part of its latest festive recycling campaign, which aims to encourage everyone to Re-use, Repair, Recycle and Re-heat or eat as many leftovers or unused food items as possible.
The campaign is called “It’s the Most Wonderful Time to RE….” which stands for - Re-use, Repair, Recycle and Re-heat and will lookto raise awareness about re-using, repairing or re-gifting items, recycling all that we can and reducing food waste during Christmas - all in the name of spreading the cheer to give us a greener new year!
The festive season is a time of joy, togetherness, gifts (with lots of packaging) and delicious feasts. However, it often leads to an increase in waste, from wrapping paper, boxes, bottles, cans, chocolate tubs and lots more - which can have a negative impact on the environment.
To support the campaign and our residents the Council’s information trailer will be out and about in key locations across the County Borough over the next week offering advice and helping to get you all stocked up with CLEAR and Food Waste Recycling bags.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time to Re-use…
That scarf from Auntie Phyllis, that’s just not your style could be best gift EVER for someone in RCT and the THREE dedicated Re-use Shops are here to help, save Christmas, declutter your cupboard and save the planet!
There are three dedicated re-use shops, called ‘The Shed’ across the County Borough, with one based in each area of Rhondda, Cynon and Taf. These shops are open for donations all year around to ensure that your unwanted gifts or items are given a new lease of life. They are also open for you to pick up a bargain and a stocking filler or two all whilst doing your bit for the environment, by making used treasures available to the masses! From Phyllis's scarf to toys, games, table and chairs for the big meal, The Shed has got the lot! Full details can be found at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/TheShed.
There are also other ways to re-gift across the County Borough with a number of high street charity shops available.
If re-gifting is not for you – why not re-use the item? Auntie Phyllis’ scarf would make great wrapping paper for the candle you bought for your mum.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time to Repair…
If your favourite hair dryer is letting you down for party season, maybe the Repair Café in RCT could help bring it back to life? It could just be a fuse or a new plug!
The Council supports a number of local pop-up repair events across RCT and more info can be found at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/Repair.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time to Recycle…
Food is one of the biggest items that we waste at Christmas, which contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. When food is wasted, the resources used to produce it, such as water, energy, and labour, are also wasted. By reducing food waste, we can decrease our carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier planet. For unavoidable food waste, we can recycle it for free every week at the kerbside in our caddies.
Food waste accounts for over 20% of what is collected monthly in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The good news is that, out of the recycled food waste, enough energy can be generated to power around 1180 homes!
It is estimated that general household waste also increases by over 30% during this time, which means lots of extra recycling!
The Council is asking its residents to put all the amazing efforts they have shown so far this year into having a greener Christmas, by recycling all their extra items.
Residents can enjoy a greener holiday by recycling all their unavoidable food waste (turkey bones, egg shells, plate scrapings etc), extra plastic bottles, wrapping paper, Christmas cards, real Christmas trees, tubs and trays, metal cans, tinfoil, glass bottles, jars, cardboard packaging and lots more, during the festive season.
Of course, the easiest items to recycle at Christmas are all the plastic and paper/cardboard packaging you'll come across during the festive period.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's Cabinet Member for Environmental Services said:
“I'd like to wish all our residents a greener Christmas and thank every one of them for supporting a greener future for RCT all year round.
"The festive period means extra waste and it's a great time to think green and recycle all the additional packaging, wrapping paper and cards. This year we’re hoping residents will also think about re-use and re-gifting as this will a big difference for the planet and also residents pockets. There are many bargain items available at the re-use shops that will make perfect gifts for loved ones.
"Rhondda Cynon Taf Council encourages residents to keep up the good work all year round. The Council provides an accessible and innovative recycling service complemented by ongoing public education and awareness-raising.
"The support of our householders towards our food waste recycling has been amazing so far.
“This year we are proud to say that we smashed the 70% Welsh Government target for 2024/25 and there has been a 17% increase in food waste recycled and a 36% decrease in black bag waste collected!
“I’m sure that, together we can keep up the great efforts and ensure that we keep hitting and smashing any target set by the Welsh Government and make 2026 an even Greener and record-breaking New Year."
After the presents are unwrapped and you're wondering how to clear away the mountain of boxes, paper bags and wrapping paper, simply pick up your clear recycling bag and fill it up.
Please remember to put ALL wrapping paper into a separate CLEAR bag, including foil or glitter wrapping paper. Also, flatten any cardboard boxes and paper bags to make space in your recycling.
If you have any broken glass baubles or sharp items, please make sure they are wrapped in kitchen towels, cardboard etc to ensure that they don’t pierce the bags and cause injury to the collection crews.
If you’re having a clear out and the items can’t be saved and are not suitable for the kerbside then you can pop to one of the SIX CRCs across the County Borough, that are open 7 days a week from 8.30am – 4.30pm (winter opening hours). All centres accept a large number of items, from hard plastics, to soil, wood and broken electricals. Full details can be found at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/CRCs. Please ensure you sort your waste before visiting.
Our Community Recycling Centres are open from 8.30am until 4.30pm every day except for a 3.30pm closure on 24th and 31st December and complete closure on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and re-open on Friday 2nd January 2026.
If the Christmas lights have finally packed in and you have checked the bulbs then small electricals, including old phones or what is sometimes call WEEE can be recycled at participating Leisure Centres - The SEVEN main Leisure for Life, Leisure Centres across RCT now have dedicated bins in their reception areas for you to drop your small WEEE items (anything smaller than a four-slice toaster, including electrical cables and tree lights) and then head to your chosen leisure 'activity' – its win, win for the environment and for your fitness. More information www.rctcbc.gov.uk/WEEE.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time to Re-heat…
It could easily be argued that Boxing Day, and the lazy days between Christmas and New Year known as ‘Twixtmas’, are even better than Christmas Day itself: the pressure of family catering is over, there’s little to do, and best of all, there are lots of lovely leftovers to re-heat if needed and enjoy!
Even the most conservative of Christmas food shops can still result in second or third helpings for the days that follow, so why not treat yourself to a Turkey sandwich or the famous Turkey Curry, or the old time favourite bubble and squeak! There are lots of amazing a super quick recipes available at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
For more information and tips on recycling your Christmas waste follow us on Facebook or Twitter or visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/christmasrecycling
Changes to collections over the Festive Period:
Your weekly collections for recycling, food, nappies and black bag waste will change during Christmas week.
Collections due on Thursday 25th December will be collected on Saturday 27th December and will skip 2 days for the rest of the week - Thursday to Saturday, Friday to Sunday.
All refuse and recycling (including nappies and food waste recycling) should be placed at its collection point by 7am on your revised collection days.
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Normal Collection Days
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Revised Collections
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Monday 22nd December
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No Change
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Tuesday 23rd December
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No Change
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Wednesday 24th December
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No Change
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Thursday 25th December
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Saturday 27th December
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Friday 26th December
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Sunday 28th December
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Collections will take place as usual on Monday 29th December, Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st December. Collections will then skip 1 day from New Years Day (Thursday) – so Thursdays collection will be collected on Friday etc. This applies to ALL your scheduled collections for recycling, food, nappies and black bag waste from Thursday 1st January (New Year week) – Please note there will be NO COLLECTION on New Year’s Day.
All refuse and recycling (including nappies and food waste recycling) should be placed at their usual collection point by 7am on your revised collection day.
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Normal Working Days
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Revised Collections
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Monday 29th December
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No Change
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Tuesday 30th December
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No Change
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Wednesday 31st December
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No Change
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Thursday 1st January
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Friday 2nd January
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Friday 2nd January
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Saturday 3rd January
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Other services such as bulky waste collections and delivery of wheelie bins/food waste bins will be suspended from 24th December and restart on 5th January. This allows us to use as many resources as possible to collect the anticipated record amounts of Mighty recycling this Christmas.
Normal services will resume on Monday 5th January.
Community Recycling Centres
Our Community Recycling Centres are open from 8.30am until 4.30pm every day except for a 3.30pm closure on 24th and 31st December and complete closure on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and re-open on Friday 2nd January 2025.
Real Christmas Tree Collections and Green Waste:
From 1st December, you can book 'real' Christmas trees for kerbside collection between 29th December and 25th January 2026.
This MUST be done via www.rctcbc.gov.uk/ChristmasTrees or by calling 01443 425001 as bookings WON’T be accepted via the Winter Green Collection system as this is suspended during this time.
The bookable Winter Green Waste Collection Service (including 'real' Christmas trees not booked in for collection) will be suspended from 25th December. Booked Winter Green Waste Collections will resume on Monday 12th January 2026. Green waste, including real Christmas trees, can still be taken to your local CRCs (unbagged) throughout the festive period.
Residents must book their 'real' Christmas tree collections online at least 24 hours before their revised collection day as they won't be automatically collected: www.rctcbc.gov.uk/ChristmasTrees
During the booking period, real Christmas trees can be placed out whole. However, trees over 4ft will have to be cut up so the crews can safely lift them. Please remove ALL lights, baubles and stars beforehand.
Please Note: Artificial Christmas trees can be taken to a Community Recycling Centre or booked in for a special collection if you want to dispose of them.
Please remember to place ALL refuse and recycling out before 7am on your collection or revised collection day and not before, as this can lead to spillages and difficulties for pedestrians using the pavement.
If we haven't collected your refuse/recycling as planned, please leave it at the kerbside, as we may be working additional hours to clear a backlog. Our crews can work well into the evening during busy periods, and extra staff can sometimes be called in to remove the items the next day.
Residents can visit one of the many collection points across Rhondda Cynon Taf before the festive period to collect their recycling bags – find your nearest at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/bags.
The Streetcare Team would also like to remind residents to park sensibly so that they can get the recycling truck down your street.
Information Trailer dates and locations:
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Day
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Venue
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Hours
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Monday 1st December
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Talbot Green Tesco
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From 10am – 6pm
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Tuesday 2nd December
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Upper Boat Tesco
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10am – 6pm
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Wednesday 3rd December
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Aberdare Asda
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10am – 6pm
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Thursday 4th December
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Treorchy Co-Op
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10am - 2pm
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Friday 5th December
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Pontypridd Mill Street
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10am - 2pm
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The Council has issued the following tips for a ‘Green Christmas'
- Rinse food and drink containers, bottles in your leftover washing up water before placing them into your recycling bags!
- Stock up on recycling bags, ahead of the festive period by visiting one of the many collection points across RCT.
- Park sensibly, so that our vehicles can get down your street safely.
- Please place refuse and recycling out before 7am on your collection day and not before as this can lead to spillages and difficulties for pedestrians using the pavement.
- Place ALL wrapping paper and gift bags into a separate CLEAR bag, including foil and glitter products.
- Book your real Christmas tree collection online from 1st December at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/christmastrees
Posted on 01/12/2025