Frequently Asked Questions for Householders
General
Kerbside recycling (Green box)
Food recycling (Blue box)
Home composting
Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HW&RC’s) / formerly known as Civic Amenity Sites
Van/Trailer Permit Scheme – HW&RC
Bring Sites
General
What time do collections start?
Refuse and recycling bins/boxes and bags should be placed at the kerbside by 7am on collection day.
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What day is my collection day?
Different crews are responsible for collecting the various bins/boxes/bags from the kerbside; to find out which services are available in your area and your specific collection days, please contact the service support team on 01685 725138
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What should I do if my collection is missed?
Occasionally, a collection may be missed. If this happens, please contact the service support team on 01685 725138
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How do I order a green/blue box, wheeled bin, green/brown sacks or a compost bin?
Please contact the service support team on 01685 725138
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Kerbside Recycling
What materials can I put in the green box?
Please see WoW materials for a full list of accepted materials.
NB: Paper and card should be bundled together and kept separate from the other materials in the green box. Please ensure the paper and card is kept dry and is free from contaminants (i.e. plastic etc). Larger boxes should be flattened and all other containers should be rinsed before being placed in the green box. Textiles/clothes and shoes should also be kept separate from other materials
**Important update**
From August 2009, MTCBC will collect some polystyrene, please see the kerbside recycling page for further info
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The vehicle that collects my recyclables looks the same as the one that collects my refuse, how do I know that the items I place out for collection will be recycled?
The new recycling vehicles are based on the same design as a refuse vehicle but are split in two sections at the rear. The mixed materials are placed into the larger side and the card is placed in the smaller side. Both sets of materials are then compacted separately to achieve maximum capacity on collections.
NB: On occasions where there is no recycling vehicle available (due to breakdowns etc) refuse vehicles are cleaned out and used to collect the recyclables from the kerbside. The recyclable materials collected in these vehicles are taken to the MRF (Materials Recycling Facility) for reprocessing, the recyclables will never be taken to the landfill site.
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Where are my recyclables taken after collection?
The recyclable materials collected from the kerbside are taken to a MRF (Material Recycling Facility) where mixed materials are placed on a conveyer belt and sorted both manually and mechanically and sent to various destinations to be made into new products.
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Are all materials sent to the Materials Recycling Facility recycled?
All of the materials accepted at the kerbside will be sent through the recycling process.
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Why is it important to place the correct materials in the green box?
Any material not included in the kerbside WoW materials list will be sent to landfill. To find an alternative way to recycle some of these items, please see the HW&RC accepted materials as you may be able to recycle these items there.
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Food Waste
Why should I recycle my waste food, doesn’t it break down naturally?
Producing, transporting and storing food uses a lot of energy, water and packaging, which is wasted if food gets thrown away uneaten. If we stopped wasting all this food, the reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year would equate to taking 1 in 5 cars off Welsh roads.
Most of the food thrown away ends up in landfill sites; this causes methane to be released into the atmosphere. Methane (CO4) is a powerful greenhouse gas and a significant contributor to climate change.
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What can I put in my blue food bin?
Please see food waste leaflet for a list of food which can be placed in the bin.
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What is the best method for recycling food waste?
The easiest and cleanest way to recycle food waste is to use bio-degradable cornstarch/potato starch liners in your kitchen caddy. When the liner is full, simply tie the bag and place into the larger blue bin which can be kept outside. Ensure the bin lids are kept closed and rinse out and empty the containers regularly to keep clean and free of contamination. You can also wrap your food in newspaper if you prefer this method.
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Where can I purchase extra bio-degradable bags for my food waste caddy?
Additional bags can be purchased from Civic Buildings located throughout the County Borough. To find out your nearest Civic building, please contact the County Borough’s service support team on 01685 725138 or see Where can I purchase biodegradable food waste cornstarch bags
NB: Please ensure only cornstarch/potato bio-degradable bags or newspaper are used to line your caddy. Other materials will not be accepted.
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Garden Waste
How can I order replacement green/brown garden waste sacks?
Ordinary refuse bags can be used when you have used all of your green/brown garden sacks.Please ensure you mark the bags with green or garden waste to prevent them being mistaken for refuse.
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What garden waste can I recycle in the green/brown garden waste sacks?
Please see garden waste leaflet for further information.
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What if I have larger items such as trees from my garden?
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council offer a bulky garden waste collection service (such as trees, large branches cut into manageable sizes) for a small fee.
For further information or to request a bulky garden waste collection, please contact the Service Support Team on 01685 725138.
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Home Composting
Where can I purchase a compost bin and how much do they cost?
Compost bins are available to purchase for a subsidised fee, with free delivery! Please see our home composting leaflet for further information.
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What materials can I compost?
MTCBC has compiled a home composting guide to assist you through the process, all the information you need should be within.
If you need further information or would like to purchase a bin, please contact the service support team on 01685 725138
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Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC’s - formerly known as Civic Amenity Sites)
Where is my nearest HWRC (Household Waste and Recycling Centre)?
There are two HWRC’s in the County Borough, One at Dowlais and one at Aberfan. Please see the location and opening times of HWRCs for exact locations and further details.
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Which materials are accepted at the site?
Please see HWRC accepted materials for further information on materials accepted at your nearest site.
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I have a small business; can I take my waste to the HWRC?
No, the sites are for household waste only, trade waste will not be accepted. Please see trade waste FAQs for further information of the services provided to businesses.
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Is there a limit to how much waste I can take to the HW&RC?
No, however if you do have large quantities of construction/demolition waste you should consider hiring a skip.
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What type of waste can I take to the HW&RC?
All household waste can be deposited at the HW&RC apart from:
• Gypsum
• Japanese Knotweed
• Ragwort
Please see HW&RC accepted materials for an exact list of items.
NB: You must deposit your materials in the correct container at the HW&RC, look out for the signs which are displayed above each container at the site. Do not dispose of your recyclable items in the general waste container.
If you are unsure, please ask a member of staff at the site who will be happy to assist.
Can I bring fridges and large household items to the HW&RC?
Yes, please see our HW&RC accepted materials for a full list of materials.
NB: Transporting large items such as these can often be difficult, MTCBC offer a bulky waste collection scheme to collect larger items from the kerbside for a small fee.
For further information or to arrange a collection, please contact the service support team on: 01685 725138.
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Van Permit Scheme
What is the van permit scheme?
Any resident of the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough who brings waste into the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HW&RC) in a van or trailer must apply for a free permit and to gain access to the HW&RC.
NB: Permits will only be issued to residents of the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough and lorries or vehicles over 3.5 tonnes will not be allowed to use the HW&RC’s.
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Why is there a permit scheme?
The permit scheme is intended to stop the illegal use of HW&RC’s for the disposal of trade waste.
If you bring your waste to the site in a commercial type vehicle or with a trailer without a permit you will not be allowed to tip your waste.
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Where and how can I apply for a permit?
Permits may be obtained by applying in person at the Civic Centre, Castle St, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8AN. You must provide proof of address and ownership of the vehicle/hire agreement.
If you are borrowing a van, the owner must accompany you when applying for a permit.
The permit will be issued at the Civic Centre and this must be handed to the HWRC site attendant before tipping your waste.
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How long will it take to receive my permit?
On application of the permit your details will be checked, if everything is in order you should receive your permit within a few minutes.
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How many permits am I entitled to?
You are entitled to six permits per year; this is restricted to three permits at one time. Each permit is valid for up to a maximum of seven days.
NB: The permit is for the vehicle and not the household, when six permits have been allocated to the vehicle registration number no more will be issued that year. This will not apply to hire vehicles.
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I have a camper van; do I still need a permit?
No, the scheme does not apply to cars (including estates), 4 wheel drives, people carriers or camper vans unless they have been adapted to carry materials i.e. removal of seats.
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What if I hire a vehicle?
You will still need a permit, proof of residence and your hire agreement documentation will be required to obtain a permit.
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Can I apply for a permit for tradespersons working on my house?
No, the vehicle must be driven by the applicant for the permit; applications can not be made on behalf of other people such as trades people employed on your behalf. This waste is classed as trade waste and the disposal of it must be paid for.
NB: It is illegal for trade waste to be deposited at a HW&RC.
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What are the opening times of the HW&RC’s and where are they located?
Please refer to the HW&RC (Civic Amenity Site) page.
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Bring Bank Sites
Where is my nearest bring site and what materials can I recycle there?
Please see our list of Bring Sites for locations and materials accepted at each site.
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