Waste Hints and Tips

Reduce

• Buy loose vegetables instead of pre-packed, keep and reuse the plastic bags supplied by the store for your next visit.
• Use refills where possible, refills are available for lots of products such as washing powders, household liquids, air fresheners, foods and baby wipes.
• Avoid using disposable items like paper plates, plastic and polystyrene cups, and plastic cutlery.
• Buy re-chargeable batteries – although these are more expensive they last for up to 1000 charges.
• Printer cartridges can be refilled and reconditioned 
   
 

Reuse

• Recycle clothes & shoes at charity shops, clothes banks or via the kerbside collection scheme.
• Even torn or damaged clothing can be recycled as it can be used as industrial cleaning cloths, so please place these out for collection.
• Tie pairs of shoes together before placing in the recycling box or taking to a charity shop.
• Any unwanted gifts may also be taken to charity shops.
• Give unwanted households items to Green Horizons, or even pay them a visit yourself to purchase something for your own home.
• Take re-usable bags when you go shopping. You can also ask a member of staff if they supply reusable bags / boxes.
• Choose reusable nappies instead of disposable ones.
• Use take-away plastic containers as Tupperware for packed lunches and food storage.
• Use returnable items – purchase milk in glass bottles from the milkman who will collect and reuse the glass bottles

Recycling

• Buy recycled products. By purchasing products which are made from recycled materials you are supporting the recycling chain. It may encourage retailers to stock more products giving you more choice.
• Use the bring banks. See bring sites for further information on materials collected and site locations.
• Don’t leave bags and boxes around the bring banks; take them home to be reused.
• Check packaging can be recycled before purchasing goods to reduce the amount of waste generated on a shopping trip.
  Printer cartridges can be recycled at the end of their life.

There are three kerbside recycling schemes in Merthyr Tydfi;

2) Blue Box (food waste)

3) Green Bag (garden waste)