Free* reusable plastic-free period products available to collect locally!
Love your period, Love your planet!
Following MTCBCs successful Love your Period, Love your planet! campaign in March 2023 that encouraged residents to switch from disposable to reusable period products, the Council received additional funding from Welsh Governments Period Dignity Grant (PDG) to supply school pupils and residents of Merthyr Tydfil with reusable period products *free of charge whilst stocks last.
Check the list of locations at the bottom of this page where you can collect your free products today.
What is period dignity?
Welsh Government now issues Welsh local authorities with an annual Period Dignity Grant (PDG).The PDG aims to provide all people who menstruate access to period products and awareness about menstruation who might have experienced difficulty doing so, typically because of financial difficulties. A survey by Action Aid UK in 2022 found that nearly one in eight of those surveyed struggled to buy menstrual products in the last six months and this affected their attendance at school or work.
Why should I switch to reusable period products?
Most period products are made from single use plastics. Shockingly, each sanitary pad uses the same amount of plastic as it takes to create 5 carrier bags and even the absorbent part of a tampon (not just the applicator) also contains plastic. Every year 200,000 tonnes of period product waste is landfilled in the UK and around 4kg of period product waste in generated per household per year. That equates to around 114 tonnes of this waste in Merthyr Tydfil alone!
What are the benefits?
Reusable period products can save the user £8-10 per month which is the typical amount spent during each period. Reusable products can also help the environment as they are made from more sustainable materials and, by switching to reusables, you will reduce the demand for single use plastics. Not only that, reusable period products are better for you as they don’t contain plastics, and hazardous industrial chemicals such as BPA, dioxins, pesticides, bleach and perfumes which single use products may contain according to campaign for safe cosmetics.
Reusable period products are better for you, better for your pocket and better for the environment so why not try switching today!
Further information and resources
Visit wen.org.uk or view WEN’s Environmenstrual fact sheet
You can also visit City to Sea to learn more about plastic free periods
Collection points
The great news is that reusable plastic free period products are available to collect locally free of charge* from the following locations:
A New Lease of Life / Bywyd Newydd, Reuse Superstore, Unit 20, Merthyr Tydfil Industrial Park, Pentrebach, Pentrebach, CF48 4DR
Aberfan Community Centre, Aberfan CF48 4QE
Aberfan Library, Aberfan Community Centre, Aberfan CF48 4QE
Dowlais library, Church Street, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 3HS
Dowlais Community Centre, Station Rd, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 3LW
Calon Las Community Hub, Chestnut Way, Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 9SB
Cwm Golau, Integrated Childrens Centre, Duffryn Rd, Pentrebach, CF48 4BJ
Merthyr Tydfil Central Library, High Street, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8AF
Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre, Merthyr Tydfil leisure Village, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 1UT
Town Centre Hub, 3 Newmarket Walk, Merthyr Tydfil
Treharris Community Centre, Perrott Street, Treharris CF46 5ER
If you have any questions, please email wasteservices@merthyr.gov.uk and we will be happy to assist you with any enquiries or call us on 01685 725000
*While stocks last