It’s not only rubbish that can be recycled. Most household goods can be recycled and made into new things.
Select the relevant letter from the list below to find out more.
Aerosols
Aerosols can be recycled. Make sure they are empty and put them in your red bag for collection.
Batteries
Instead of buying normal batteries, why not buy rechargeable batteries which last longer and are better for the environment.
Batteries, AAA, AA, B, C, D, DD and 9V (must be bagged and tied) can be put in the black box for collection.
Battery recycling points can be found at all major retailers and at our Household Recycling Centre in New Inn.
Black recycling box
Use this for glass, batteries, paper, newspapers and clothing/shoes.
Where possible please place paper and textiles in a bag to keep them dry or place red/blue bags on top of your black box to keep items as dry as possible. All batteries need to be in a bag. For information on how to use your box and to find out about your collection day visit the black box Recycling Service page.
Books
Books in good condition can be donated to charity shops such as The Steelhouse. Books can also be taken to the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn.
Caddy liners
Food waste caddy liners can be collected for free from one of our recycling container collection hubs. You can also use plastic bags such as bread bags and bags from cereal boxes if you run out of food waste caddy liners.
Cans
Cans and tins can be recycled by putting them in your red bag (please rinse and squash).
Cardboard
Cardboard can be recycled using your blue bag. Alternatively, it can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn.
Cartons
You can recycle paper based liquid food and drink cartons (tetra paks) in your red bag (please remember to remove caps, rinse and squash)
CDs
Old CDs can be donated to charity shops such as The Steelhouse or Circulate (opens in new tab).
China plates and ornaments
If these are unbroken, you can donate these to a charity shop such as The Steelhouse or Circulate (opens in new tab). Please do not put these in your recycling. Broken crockery can be recycled in the rubble section at the Household Recycling Centre.
Children’s toys
Broken plastic toys can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre. Reusable toys can be donated to a local charity shop such as The Steelhouse or Circulate (opens in new tab).
Christmas cards
Old cards can be re-used for making present tags. Alternatively plain cards can be recycled using your blue bag for cardboard. Any cards with buttons, bows, glitter or beads on them need to go in the purple lidded bin as they cannot be recycled.
Christmas trees
After Christmas, you can recycle your real tree at the Household Recycling Centre. Plastic trees can also be disposed of at the Household Recycling Centre, please ask staff on-site for advice on which bay to use.
Clingfilm
We cannot collect clingfilm for recycling. Reduce the amount of clingfilm you use by storing sandwiches and food in sealable plastic containers. Please place clingfilm in your purple lidded bin.
Clothes
You can put clothes in your black box (please bag to keep dry) or take them to the Household Recycling Centre or reputable charity banks throughout the Borough. Clothes that are suitable for re-use can be taken to a charity shop.
Coffee Pods
Coffee Pods can be recycled at the Household Recycling Centre. Please separate plastic and aluminium pods and place them loose in the container on site.
Composting
Composting in Torfaen is easy. To find out more visit the composting page.
Computers
Electrical goods can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre. If your items are in working condition, please donate them to The Steelhouse or Circulate.
Cooking Oil
Cooking oil can be recycled at the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn.
Waste cooking oil should NOT be poured down the sink – it can clog pipes and sewers.
Corks
Please put in the purple lidded bin if they can’t be reused.
Crisp Tubes
Please put these in your purple lidded bin. Unfortunately they are made up of too many materials and cannot currently be recycled.
Drinks bottles and cans
These can be recycled, just put them in your red bag for collection. Please wash and squash.
Duvets and pillows
Please donate to animal charities/organisations, place in your purple lidded bin, or take them to the Household Recycling Centre. Unfortunately, they cannot be recycled at textile banks.
Electrical goods
Small electrical items (less than 30x30x30cm) can go in black box.
Electrical goods can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre. If your items are in working condition, you could take them to The Steelhouse or Circulate. If a small electrical item needs repairing you could try taking it to the Repair Café in Pontypool.
Envelopes
Envelopes can be recycled in your black box (please bag to keep dry).
Fabrics
Bed linen can be donated to The Steelhouse, Circulate (opens in new tab) or placed in the banks at the Household Recycling Centre.
Fat
Cooking fat should not be poured down the drain as it causes blockages. Mix it with bird seed and leave it to solidify. You can then put it out on your windowsill or from a tree and feed the birds in the winter. It can also be composted either at home or solidified fat can go in your brown caddy.
Foil
Clean foil and clean foil trays can be placed in the red bag.
Food
Food waste can be recycled by using the green kitchen caddy and brown caddy.
You can also recycle some food by using composters or wormeries. Visit our composting page to find out more.
Freezers and fridges
Contact the council to get rid of your fridge or freezer or take it to the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn. To arrange a collection call 01495 762200.
Furniture
Contact Circulate Furniture Recycling (opens in new tab). They can remove furniture for free if it’s in good condition. Phone 01495 793187.
There are lots of companies who will take furniture suitable for reuse. You can also donate it to charity shops and second-hand shops such as The Steelhouse.
Any large items that are not fit for reuse please contact Call Torfaen for a bulky collection 01495 762200.
Garden chemicals
Garden chemicals are classified as hazardous household waste and must be disposed of carefully. These can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre.
Garden waste
Garden waste can be recycled using the green bin. Alternatively it can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre.
Gas Canisters
Gas canisters can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre.
Giftwrap
Wrapping paper cannot be recycled, it must be placed into the purple lidded bin, or re-used where possible.
Glass bottles and jars
These can be recycled by putting them in your black box. Lids can be left on the jars or left loose in the box.
Grass cuttings
Grass cuttings can be recycled in your green bin or can be composted at home. Further information is available about home composting.
Green Bin
Visit the green bin page to find out what you can recycle at the kerbside. To find out when your green bin will be collected visit the bin collection days page.
Gravy Granule Pots
Please put these inside your purple lidded bin. Unfortunately they are made up of too many materials and cannot currently be recycled.
Household rubbish
Over 60% of your household rubbish can be recycled. Rubbish that can’t be recycled goes in your purple lidded bin. For information on what can be recycled visit the what goes in which bin page.
Details of your collection day are available on the bin collection days page.
Household Recycling Centre
Dispose of recyclable materials and waste here. Facilities are available free of charge. There is a charge for commercial and trade waste.
For more information visit the Household Recycling Centre page.
Inkjet cartridges
Many charities and organisations will take your used printer cartridges and recondition and refill them. They are then resold. There are also recycling bins at the Household Recycling Centre for ink cartridges.
Junk mail
To reduce your junk mail, register with the Mailing Preference Service (opens in new tab).
To stop unaddressed mail being delivered to your address, complete the Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Out Form (opens in new tab).
Junk Mail can be recycled in your black box (please bag to keep dry).
Kitchen Caddy
Use your green kitchen caddy to help sort kitchen waste. Transfer your food waste to your brown caddy which is collected every week.
Kitchen towels
You can now buy recycled kitchen towel from supermarkets. Better still, use cotton dish cloths, which can be re-used. Used kitchen towel can be composted at home, or placed in your purple lidded bin.
Letters
These can be recycled in your black box (please bag to keep dry).
Leaves
Leaves can be put into your compost bin or collected via your green bin. Information about composting is available here.
Light bulbs
Replace your light bulbs with energy saving ones. Old light bulbs can be recycled at the Household Recycling Centre.
Loo rolls
Look out for toilet paper made from recycled paper – most supermarkets now stock it. The cardboard toilet roll tubes can be recycled in your blue bag.
Magazines
Magazines can be recycled in your black box (please bag to keep dry).
Mattresses
Mattresses can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre.
Medicine
Unfinished bottles of medicines or tablets should be returned to your local chemist. Any empty plastic can go in the red bag or glass bottles can be put in the black box for recycling.
Metal
Metal tins (including biscuit tins) and cans can be recycled in your red bag. Scrap metal can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre.
Mirrors
If they are intact and reusable try your local second hand furniture store. Alternatively, mirrors can be taken to the The Steelhouse or Circulate Furniture Recycling (opens in new tab). If they are broken you can take them to the Household Recycling Centre.
Missed recycling collection
Did we miss your recycling? There may be a reason for this. Was the box put out on time? Did it have the correct materials in it? Were the containers washed out?
If the answer is yes to all of these questions, report a missed collection.
Mobile phones
Old mobile phones can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre to be recycled.
If they are still working you may be able to trade them for cash, take a look online to find out what offers are available
Nappies
Residents with children in nappies can apply for a supply of heavy duty bags which will be collected on the same day as your purple lidded bin. Take a look at our yellow bag page for more information.
The council offers Torfaen residents a £30 voucher towards the cost of your first purchase of Real Nappies and reusable wipes. Find out more information on the reusable nappies page.
Newspapers
These can be recycled in your black box (please bag to keep dry).
Nitrous oxide canisters
A small amount of nitrous oxide canisters can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre. Please inform staff if you have these so they can ensure correct and safe disposal.
Nitrous oxide canisters that are found flytipped or collected during a community litter pick need to be reported through the report it section. Where possible please keep them separate from all other materials so they are identifiable to crews collecting and can be disposed of safely.
Office furniture
Recycle items through specialised companies such as Circulate Furniture Recycling (opens in new tab). Phone 01495 793187.
Oil
Engine oil and cooking oil can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn.
Waste cooking oil should NOT be poured down the sink – it can clog pipes and sewers.
Paint
Paint can be recycled via the Community Repaint scheme run by CoStar (2 Fairwater Square, Cwmbran) - Tel: 01633 357244.
You can also take paint to the Household Recycling Centre.
Paper
Paper can be recycled in your black box, including junk mail, letters, newspaper and office paper. Please keep paper as dry as possible by placing the red/blue bag over the top of the black box or use a bag.
Pet food
If your pet’s food comes in a can, it can be recycled. Rinse it out and recycle it in your red bag. Cat food pouches are made of metallised film and cannot be recycled at the kerbside.
Excess pet food will need to go in the purple lidded bin. It is not suitable for home composting due to animal by-product regulations.
Plant Pots
Please take plant pots to the Household Recycling Centre.
Plastic bottles, tubs and trays
Please place plastic bottles, tubs and trays in your red bag.
Plastic bags
Over ten billion plastic bags are used each year - about 167 per person. They are not biodegradable and litter the streets. When you next go shopping, why not take some plastic bags with you. Better still, purchase a "Bag for Life" or take a canvas bag to carry your shopping in - not only are they stronger but they can be reused many times.
Polystyrene packaging
This cannot be recycled. When buying new things, make a conscious effort to buy things with as little packaging as possible. Polystyrene should be placed in the purple lidded bin.
Postage stamps
If you cut out used postage stamps from envelopes (with a border of about 1cm) you can give them to Oxfam for resale.
Printer cartridges
Take them to shops to be refilled or to the Household Recycling Centre.
Pyrex glass
Kitchen glassware is heat resistant and not suitable for the recycling plant. If you have broken pyrex glass, wrap it carefully and put it in your purple lidded bin.
Broken glass can also go in the inert/rubble skip at the Household Recycling Centre.
If these are reusable please take them to a charity shop.
Questions
Do you have any questions? Call 01495 762200 or email waste@torfaen.gov.uk.
Real nappies
Although nappies can't be recycled, you can use cloth nappies to help protect the environment.
The council offers a £30 voucher towards the cost of your first purchase of reusable nappies.
As well as your voucher, Torfaen has a cloth nappy library who can assist with any questions or in person help. The nappy library runs a free, open drop in at Torfaen Zero Waste shop in Cwmbran on the last Thursday of every month 10.30am - 12.30pm. You can get in touch with them on www.facebook.com/Wastesaversnappylibrary (opens in new tab)
Recycling team
To contact the recycling team call 01495 762200 or email waste@torfaen.gov.uk.
Rubble
Rubble can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn.
Schools
Schools can recycle too. If you would like your school to receive a collection, please phone 01495 762200 or email business.recycling@torfaen.gov.uk.
Shredded Paper
Shredded paper can be recycled in the Black Box. Please ensure paper is bagged preferably in a see-through bag. Shredded paper can also be used for pet bedding.
Takeaway food containers
You can recycle clean plastic takeaway trays in your red bag. Polystyrene or foil based containers will need to go in the purple lidded bin.
Tetra Pak
You can recycle tetra pak and other beverage cartons in your red bag.
Textiles
Textiles can be recycled in your black box or taken to The Steelhouse or the Household Recycling Centre.
Timber and wood
Wood can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre for recycling.
Tins
Tins can be recycled in your red bag.
Toothpaste Tubes
Toothpaste tubes can be recycled in your red bag.
Unaddressed mail
To stop unaddressed mail being delivered to your address, complete the Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Out Form (opens in new tab).
Van Permit Scheme
Vehicles designed to carry goods or use a trailer need permits to use the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn. They are only available to Torfaen residents and you must apply in advance. For further information visit the Van Permit Scheme page.
Vapes and e-cigarettes
Vapes and e-cigarettes can be recycled at the Household Recycling Centre.
Vegetable peel
Vegetable peel can be put into your home compost bin or put in your brown caddy. Further information about composting is available.
Videos and DVDs
Old videos and DVDs can be donated to your local charity shop such as The Steelhouse.
Wool
Donate balls of wool to your local charity shop.
Wrapping Paper
Wrapping paper cannot be recycled, it must be placed in the purple lidded bin.
Xmas
See Christmas
Yoghurt pots
Yoghurt pots can be recycled in your red bag.
Zinc
Batteries have zinc in them - see for how you can recycle them.