Posted on: Wednesday 18 October 2023
The amount of food waste being recycled in Torfaen has increased 13 per cent over the past five months.
In September, just over 294 tonnes of food waste was recycled compared to 260 tonnes in April this year.
This week marks Recycle Week, which aims to increase all forms of recycling, including food waste, which still accounts for around a quarter of rubbish thrown away in Wales.
Did you know.....
- The most common food to waste is milk, bread, apples, carrots, bananas and chicken.
- 83 per cent of food thrown away could have been eaten.
- All food waste collected in Wales is turned into energy for homes and communities via anaerobic digestion.
In Torfaen, around 60% of households regularly use our weekly food waste collection service. To find out how to start recycling food, visit our website.
Over the past six months, Torfaen Council has been working to increase kerbside recycling to help increase rates in line with the Welsh Government target of 70% recycling by March 2025.
Residents can now recycle small used batteries in their black recycling box, and there are plans to increase cardboard recycling to weekly and introduce new small electrical items recycling.
The council has also been working with social landlords including Bron Afon to increase flat recycling facilities. Eighteen more flats are due to be added onto the scheme by Monday 23 October.
Schools are also getting more involved in recycling. Last month, Woodlands Primary School in Cwmbran was crowned the winners of a recent Waste Warriors competition, followed closely by Blenheim and Coed Eva Primary School.
Coed Eva and Blenheim Primary school are also helping to launch a schools’ competition as part of Recycle Week.
Councillor Mandy Owen, Executive Member for the Environment, said: “As a council we are working hard to offer more recycling services to residents, to make it easier for people to recycle at home, and we will continue to do so.
“We would like to thank everyone who is currently using the kerbside recycling scheme, without your help we wouldn’t be where we are now. But we need everyone to recycle, even if it’s a small amount, if we are to reach our 70% target.”
If you are a school and want to get involved in The Mighty Food Waste Mission, visit this page.
If you are a resident and want to find out more about the Be Mighty. Recycle. campaign click here
Find out more about recycling in Torfaen