Clear bag recycling

How it works

We provide clear recycling bags for your dry recycling household recyclable items, which can be placed at your kerbside for collection every week. Bags are free and can be picked up from a number of locations in RCT.

Find out where to pick up more bags.

We take your recycling to the Amgen Cymru recycling sort centre in Llwydcoed, where it is sorted and sent to specific recycling centres across the UK. 

To put your bags out for collection:

• Check your clear recycling bag collection day.
• Put only household recyclable items in your bag
• All recyclable items can go in the same bag
• Do not overfill your bag
• Tie the top of your bag tightly
• Place your bag at your collection point anytime between 7pm the night before and 7am on the morning of your collection day
• Put out as many clear recycling bags as you need

What can and cannot go in your bags

Yes:

• glass bottles and jars
• metal cans, tins, aerosols and foil
• plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
• food and drink cartons
• paper and cardboard
• soft plastics- for example plastic carrier bags, bread bags, salad bags and cereal box liners, biscuit packets, sweet wrappers, celephane and bubble wrap

No:

• Food waste
• Needles, syringes and contaminated medical dressings
• Nappies
• Incontinence waste
• Clothing, plastic, metal or wooden toys - Donate or take to your local Community Recycling Centre (the tip)
• Knives
• Batteries
• Vapes
• Empty paint tins
• Broken glass
• Polystyrene meat trays
• Clear (cling) film and Crisp Packets - Find out which shops will recycle these
• Pouches for food and refills- for example microwavable rice, coffee, baby food, pet food and laundry liquids

Full instructions on what belongs in your clear recycling are printed on the bag.

If you cannot find an item or an answer on this list, check our A-Z recycling search.

Pick up more bags

Bags are free and can be picked up from a number of locations in RCT.

Find out where to pick up more bags.

Your bag has a sticker

If a recycling bag contains items that cannot be recycled, it will not be collected.

A sticker will be placed on your bag and you will need to re-sort the bag, remove the items that should not be inside and place it back out for collection the following week.

View further information on what you need to do if your bag has a sticker.

Collection points

Your collection point will either be at your kerbside or a communal location that you share.

Place your clear recycling bags at your collection point, do not block pavements or dropped kerbs.

Group bags together by type at communal collection points so that they are easily seen.

If you are having issues with where you place your bags, or you neighbours are placing their bags outside your property, e-mail us at streetcareenforcement@rctcbc.gov.uk and provide as much information as possible so that we can investigate. You will not be penalised if it is not your fault.

Reporting a missed collection

Our crews may be delayed and may not collect your bags until later in the day. If your bags have not been collected after 24 hours, you can report a missed collection.