Rhiwbina and Whitchurch in new recycling pilot scheme

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People in Rhiwbina and Whitchurch will soon be able to recycle more of their household waste, as a new pilot scheme for plastic bags and wrapping goes live from 13 October.

Residents involved in the pilot, which includes parts of Whitchurch and Tongwynlais ward, Rhiwbina, Grangetown, and Trowbridge will have their new red plastic bags and an information leaflet delivered to their home from 28 September.

You can check whether you are part of the initial scheme by using the online checker on the council’s website here.

The initial trial covers 21,000 households before the scheme will be rolled out across the rest of the city next year.

The initiative forms part of the council’s ongoing efforts to increase Cardiff’s recycling rate, which already stands at 64%, and support Wales’s ambition to remain one of the world’s leading recycling nations.

Residents taking part will receive a roll of red bags for soft plastics recycling. Once full, the bag can be tied and placed in their red recycling sack on collection day.

Data supplied by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) shows that in Cardiff, 63% of all waste placed in black bins and bags is recyclable, with 23% consisting of food waste and 20% recycling materials, as well as other items.

It is estimated that around 3,000 tonnes of soft plastics is available to be recycled in Cardiff’s waste stream. If all this material were recycled, it could increase the city’s recycling rate by as much as 1.6%.

Ed Stubbs, the council's cabinet member for frontline services, said: "In line with the data supplied by WRAP, we can clearly see the opportunity to increase the city's recycling rate further by collecting soft plastics from the kerbside.

"Although participation and material capture rates will vary, we estimate that the scheme could increase the recycling rate by between 0.4% and 0.7%, making an important contribution to our recycling ambitions.

"It is also very encouraging to see that during similar trials in both Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan, the average participation rate was 61%, and 98% of residents viewed the collection positively. "

How will the new service work?

Households included in the initial trial will receive a roll of red bags and an information leaflet explaining how to use the scheme before collections begin.

Residents will be asked to place clean plastic bags and wrapping loosely inside the red bags. Once full, the bags should be securely tied with a double knot and placed inside their reusable red recycling sack, on top of mixed metals, plastics and cartons, ready for collection on their usual recycling day.

The council is urging residents not to place items inside other bags or tie materials together, as loose items are easier to sort and recycle.

What can be recycled as part of the new service?