Easter in Rhondda Cynon Taf isn't just about the chocolate—it's about EGG-stra power!
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is on a mission to keep smashing our recycling targets, and we need every "bunny" to join the team!
This Easter, the Council is calling on residents to help turn their holiday leftovers into "EGG-stra" power for the community. While many associate the holiday with chocolate, the real energy potential lies in a surprising place: the humble eggshell.
With over 12.8 billion eggs eaten in the UK every year, an estimated 222 tonnes of inedible eggshells are produced every single day!
If these shells are recycled in our food waste caddies and processed at the Bryn Pica recycling plant in Llwydcoed, they can generate enough renewable energy to power over 20 homes every day.
“Don’t Let Good Food Go to Waste”
The Council is also highlighting the staggering amount of edible food wasted over the holiday.
In the UK alone, Easter results in:
- 8 million wasted hot cross buns
- 5 million slices of leftover roast meat
- 19 million leftover potatoes
- 20 million portions of vegetables
Residents are reminded that if they have too many eggs, they can be frozen for up to three months to prevent them from going bad. Any food that cannot be eaten—including yolks, whites, and shells—should be placed in the green food waste bags.
With 80 million Easter eggs sold annually, over 9,000 tonnes of packaging waste is generated. Residents are encouraged to:
- Reduce: Look for eggs with minimal packaging before buying.
- Reuse: Why not get crafty and reuse the shiny foils to create some ‘arty’ pieces over half term!
- Recycle: Place all clean, dry cardboard, plastic, and foil into CLEAR recycling bags.
Recycling in RCT couldn’t be easier as the Council provides FREE and easy recycling, with weekly CLEAR bag kerbside collections, along with weekly food waste, weekly Spring green waste and nappy collections.
Many local schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf will also be joining in our Easter Egg Recycling Challenge where they will compete to see which school can recycle the most packaging and receive some valuable rewards – please check with your child’s school to see if they have taken on the challenge before sending in your items.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said:
“Recycling in RCT is EGG-STRA easy and accessible for all – with a simple, weekly, one clear bag system for dry recyclables and separate food waste recycling.
“This year in RCT, we are proud to say that we smashed the 70% Welsh Government target for 2024/25 and there has been a 21% increase in food waste recycled and a 33% decrease in black bag waste collected, along with an 11% increase in dry recycling!
“I would like to thank residents for joining us in our fight against Climate Change. More and more residents are taking advantage of our fantastic weekly kerbside recycling collection service.”
All of our Community Recycling Centres are open to the public and are now open extended hours for summer – just in time for a bank holiday clear out!
There will be NO CHANGE to kerbside recycling and waste collections during the Easter holidays. Residents should place their items at their normal collection point on their usual day. To help our teams, please park sensibly so that recycling vehicles can access every street during this busy bank holiday period.
Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) will remain open throughout the bank holiday from 8:30am to 6:30pm.
Each of these facilities will cater for all recycling needs – a full list of the items accepted can be found at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/communityrecyclingcentres
All centres are staffed, and attendants are happy to advise residents.
For more information, or to use the searchable A-Z recycling guide, visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/recycling.
Posted on 25/03/2026