Recycle Week Calls on Merthyr Tydfil Residents to Help Achieve Recycling Targets

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is encouraging residents to make the most of their recycling services during Recycle Week and help the county borough move closer to Welsh Government recycling targets.

While the majority of households in Merthyr Tydfil regularly recycle, the Council says there is still more that can be done to improve recycling performance and reduce the amount of recyclable material being placed in general waste bins.

The Welsh Government has set a target for local authorities to recycle 70% of the waste they collect.

Although Merthyr Tydfil residents continue to make positive contributions towards this goal, the Council has not yet achieved the required target and is calling on residents to help increase recycling rates across the county borough.

Failure to meet statutory recycling targets can result in financial penalties for local authorities, placing additional pressure on already stretched public finances.

Councillor David Jones, Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Communities said: "We know that the vast majority of residents in Merthyr Tydfil are committed to recycling and we would like to thank everyone who recycles regularly. However, there are still recyclable materials, particularly food waste, being placed in general waste bins.

Every household contribution matters. By making small changes and using the recycling and food waste services available, residents can help us improve our recycling performance and work towards the Welsh Government's recycling targets."

One area where significant improvements could be made is food waste recycling. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has provided a kerbside food waste collection service to all households since 2016. Despite this, a substantial amount of food waste continues to be disposed of in residual waste bins each week.

Food waste collected separately can be recycled and used to generate renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser, helping to reduce the environmental impact of waste.

As part of Recycle Week, residents are being encouraged to:

• Recycle as much as possible every week.
• Use their food waste caddy for all food waste.
• Check what items can be recycled through the Council's recycling service.
• Avoid placing recyclable materials in general waste bins.

The Council is reminding residents that improving recycling rates is a collective effort that benefits the environment, supports Wales' ambitions as a world leader in recycling and helps protect public resources.