Don’t ‘waste’ our time

Local householders are being reminded not to place their clingfilm and plastic bags into red recycling bins after it was revealed large numbers are still doing it by mistake.

Stretchy plastic items such as carrier bags, magazine wrappers, food bags, bubble wrap and cling film cannot be collected for recycling in the red plastic and cans box, and should be disposed with general waste in the wheeled bin or purple sacks.

Red boxes containing plastic film will not be emptied and left at the kerbside with a leaflet explaining what material can and cannot be recycled and asking residents to remove the plastic film and put the correct items out for collection on their next scheduled collection day. 

“We know residents want to recycle as much as possible but unfortunately we can only recycle what the markets are prepared to accept and at a reasonable cost to the council. Plastic film can be easily compacted so shouldn’t take up much room in your wheeled bin or purple sacks,” said Councillor John Powell, Cabinet member responsible for Recycling. 

The county council has Waste Awareness and Enforcement Advisers who can visit households to provide advice and assistance to help residents minimise the amount of refuse they produce and recycle all the material that we can collect.

A weekly kerbside recycling collection service is provided for items such as plastic trays, bottles and tubs, food and drinks cans, paper and card, glass bottles and jars and food waste. Larger plastic items such as toys can be recycled at household waste recycling centres.

For more information on what can and can’t be recycled please visit www.powys.gov.uk/recycle. For help and advice on reducing your refuse and increasing your recycling or to request additional recycling boxes, email waste.awareness@powys.gov.uk or 0845 602 7035.