Posted on: Tuesday 23 September 2025
Residents will soon be able to put small electrical items in the black recycling box as part of their weekly recycling.
From Monday 06 October, small electrical items such as hair dryers and toasters can be put in the black recycling box. The new service is the next step on the councils route to 70 per cent recycling.
Councillor Sue Morgan, Executive Member for Waste and Sustainability, said: “This is another positive step forward for recycling in Torfaen.
“Being able to recycle small electricals at the kerbside will help save space in residents purple lidded bins and will cut down on a trip to the Household Recycling Centre.
“Every item recycled helps us protect the environment and move closer to our 70 per cent recycling target.”
Small electrical items are anything powered by a plug, battery, or charger that is small enough to fit in your black recycling box. Only items no bigger than 30cm x 30cm x 30cm (approx. 12inches x 12 inches x 12 inches) can be recycled at the kerbside.
Examples include hairdryers, hair straighteners and hair clippers, kettles, irons, toasters, electric toothbrushes, clocks, watches, calculators and torches, remote controllers, mobile phones, cameras and chargers, radios, alarms, CD and MP3 Players, small electronic toys and small power tools. Please make sure all batteries are removed.
Microwaves or TVs can’t be recycled in the black recycling box as they are too large to fit on the collection vehicles. These are also classed as different waste electrical categories and so cannot be mixed with small electrical items.
If you have larger electrical items, they can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn, or collected for a charge using our bulky waste collection scheme. Charges apply.
If you think your electrical item could be fixed, you can take it to the Repair Cafe at Pontypool Indoor Market.
Any unwanted electrical items that would be suitable for reuse please visit the Steelhouse or Furniture Circulate Recycling.