Proposed kerbside recycling processing facility

To continue improving recycling services and meet the Welsh Government’s 70% recycling target, the council needs a new recycling processing facility. 

The council is developing proposals for a new facility at Kays and Kears Industrial Estate, Blaenavon, to process recycling collected from households at the kerbside.  

Why is a new recycling processing site needed? 

A new facility is needed because the current recycling site in Cwmbran is at full capacity and cannot be expanded. The buildings and equipment there are also coming to the end of their lifespan. 

Having the right equipment to sort and bale the materials is essential to ensure that we can recycle the materials in the most cost-effective way.   

A new, larger site will provide more space, and help the council meet future recycling needs, including upcoming services like collecting plastic film from homes. 

The project would be funded through a combination of council capital already set aside for the project, Extended Producer Responsibility funding and support from Welsh Government. There would not be an additional cost to taxpayers. 

What is being developed? 

The proposed facility would be built at the Kays and Kears Industrial Estate in Blaenavon over two phases. 

It has been chosen because it has previously been used for recycling activity. It has good road access and offers enough space in the long term. 

Phase one  

Phase one will create temporary storage areas for recyclable materials like paper and cardboard. These materials will then be loaded onto larger vehicles and taken to a recycling facility. 

This temporary step will ensure kerbside recycling collections can continue without disruption while the Cwmbran site closes and the new facility is being developed. 

Phase two  

Phase two is the long-term plan to build a modern, purpose-designed recycling processing facility.  

This would allow recycling collected from homes to be sorted, baled, and stored on site before being sent for processing. 

Having everything in one place would make the service much more efficient and provide capacity to collect a wider range of materials in the future, such as plastic film.  

Sorting and baling materials on site is also important to ensure the service delivers good value for money — which is why phase one is only a temporary solution. 

The project will only go ahead if planning permission is approved and funding is secured. There would be no additional cost to taxpayers. 

Project timeline 

Summer 2026: planning application for phase one 

Autumn 2026: detailed design work for phase two begins 

Spring 2027: planning application for phase two 

More updates will be added as the project develops. 

What will it mean for residents?  

There are no immediate changes to household recycling collections. Recycling will still be collected weekly.  

However, once the new facility is up and running, there will be opportunities for residents to recycle even more materials at the kerbside. 

The new facility will not be open to the public. Residents with additional recycling will still need to use the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn. 

If you have any questions about the proposed development, please contact the waste team on wasteprojects@torfaen.gov.uk 

 

Last Modified: 22/05/2026 Back to top