Posted on: Monday 27 March 2023
Waste changes poster
You can have your say on plans to increase recycling collections and reduce residual waste collections in Torfaen from today.
Residents are being asked to choose between three or four weekly purple-lidded bin collections, as part of a series of changes to Torfaen Council's waste and recycling service.
The aim is to increase the amount of waste that is recycled to help meet the Welsh Government recycling target of 70 per cent by 2025.
Currently, less than 64 per cent of waste is recycled in Torfaen. According to a report by Torfaen Council, reducing purple-lidded collections to once every three weeks would increase recycling rates to 66 per cent, with four weekly collections resulting in recycling rates of 68 per cent.
The changes - due to be introduced in March 2024 - would be accompanied by increased recycling education and enforcement.
You can take part in the consultation by visiting our Get Involved Torfaen site or by visiting our public roadshows:
- Tuesday 28 March - Blaenavon Primary Care Centre 10am-3pm
- Wednesday 29 March - Pontypool Indoor Market 10am-3pm
- Tuesday 4 April - Blaenavon Primary Care Centre 10am-3pm
- Wednesday 5 April - Blaenavon Active Living Centre 5pm-8pm
- Thursday 6 April - Cwmbran Library 10am-3pm
- Thursday 13 April - Cwmbran Library 10am-3pm
- Friday 14 April - Facebook Live event , time TBC
- Tuesday 18 April - Cwmbran Shopping Centre 10am-3pm
- Wednesday 19 April - Pontypool Civic Centre 10am-3pm
- Thursday 20 April - Pontypool Active Living Centre 5pm-8pm
- Thursday 27 April - Cwmbran Library 10am-3pm
- Tuesday 2 May - Cwmbran Shopping Centre 10am-3pm
- Thursday 4 May - Cwmbran Stadium 5pm-8pm
Keep an eye on our website or follow Torfaen Council on social media for new public roadshow dates.
The teams will also be consulting with Torfaen’s six citizen panels and five community councils. The consultation will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 7 May.
You can take part in the online consultation anonymously or you can register and be notified about future consultations.
The purple-lidded bin changes are planned for March 2024. They will be brought in alongside an expansion of the recycling service from this spring, including:
- Used batteries recycling from April.
- Weekly cardboard and small electrical items collections from this summer.
- Increased recycling support for residents who live in flats.
- Increased trade waste recycling.
- Increased education and information.
Councillor Mandy Owen, Executive Member for the Environment, said: “We understand some residents will have concerns about how they will cope with fewer skinny bin collections, and we will be supporting those residents who need help.
“We also know we need to make improvements to the recycling service as a whole, so we are able to provide a service residents can rely on.
“But the fact of the matter is, no change is not an option. If we fail to meet the Welsh Government’s 70 per cent by 2025 target, we could face fines of up to £100,000 per percentage missed.
“Increasing recycling is a key part of the council’s Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan and our County Plan, because it is better for the climate, the environment and future generations.”
For more information about the proposed changes, including Frequently Asked Questions. You can also contact the team on wastecollectionchanges@torfaen.gov.uk or 01495 762200.
You can read more about the council's County Plan on our website and click here to read more about the Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan.