Keep up the good work and carry on recycling’ is the message for Torfaen residents following claims in the national media that recycled waste is being stockpiled or dumped in landfill sites.
The international market for recycled paper, cardboard, glass, tins and plastic has collapsed in recent months.
As a result, companies that process the waste for many Councils have preferred to store it, in the hope that prices will recover.
But Torfaen has fared better than many areas so far, according to the local council.
The Council is the best performing recycling authority in South Wales- recycling 42 per cent of its waste.
Waste Manager Cynon Edwards said: "Materials collected in Torfaen are still being recycled and put to beneficial use.
"The most important point is that collection of material for recycling will always reduce the amount of waste that we have to send to landfill.
"Any problems encountered will be temporary, and our contractor, Cleanstream, which carries out our kerbside collections, is good at finding new markets. Everyone should therefore carry on using their black boxes and other recycling services.
"Also, residents should be aware that some of the stories circulating about difficulties with recycling are not true in Torfaen
"For example a recent report stated that no UK paper mills were taking in recycled paper for reprocessing. Torfaen’s paper is being processed as usual by the mill in Kent where it has been sent for some time, and no paper or any other material is being stockpiled by our contractor."
For more information visit the Rubbish Waste and Recycling| area of the website.