A to Z guide to Recycling

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.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Aerosols

Aerosols can be recycled. Make sure they are empty and put them in your black box for collection. To find out when your collection is visit the Bin Collection Days area of the website.

Aluminium foil and lids

This can be recycled in your black box or you can reuse it.

B

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.

Bin liners

Food waste caddy liners can be collected for free from one of our recycling container collection hubs.

You can also use single use plastic bags as food waste caddy liners or bread bags.

Black box

Use this for all household rubbish that can be recycled including aerosols, newspapers, cans, glass, tins, plastic bottles and clothing/shoes and batteries. 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 recycled in your black box.

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. For information on how to use your box and to find out about your collection day visit the black box page.

C

Cans

Cans and tins can be recycled by putting them out in your black box (please rinse cans first).

Cardboard

Cardboard can be recycled using your Blue Bag. Alternatively it can be recycled at bring bank sites across the County Borough as well as taking to the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn.

Cartons

You can now recycle paper based liquid food and drink cartons (tetra paks) in your black box (please remember to remove caps, rinse and squash first)

CDs

Old CDs can be donated to charity shops such as The Steelhouse.

China plates and ornaments

If these are unbroken, you can donate these to a charity shop such as The Steelhouse. 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

These can’t be recycled. Why not donate them to a local charity shop such as The Steelhouse.

Christmas cards

Old cards can be re-used for making present tags. Alternatively the can be recycled using your Blue Bag for cardboard.

Christmas trees

After Christmas, you can recycle your real tree by taking it to 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.

Clothes

You can put clothes in your black box (please bag).

Coins

Most charities have a scheme where you can donate unwanted foreign currency.

Composting

Composting in Torfaen is easy. To find out more visit the composting page.

Computers

Residents wishing to recycle their waste electrical goods can take them to the Household Recycling Centre. If your items are in working use, you could try eBay.

Cooking Oil

Most cooking oils shouldn’t be composted – but a few can be composted in small amounts.

However, vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, corn oil or olive oil can be composted in very small quantities as long as they haven’t come into contact with any forbidden food stuffs (like meat, cheese or fish). If you’ve soaked up a bit of oil with some kitchen roll, that’ll be ok to add but don’t pour the contents of a deep fat fryer into your compost bin.

Some people use leftover cooking oils that are solid at room temperature to make bird feeders (fat balls) for the garden.

Waste cooking oil should NOT be poured down the sink – it can clog pipes and sewers.

Cooking oil can now be recycled at the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn.

Corks

Natural corks can be used to make a notice board.

D

Doorstep recycling

Most households in Torfaen have a kerbside recycling service.

To find out when your collection is visit the Black Box Recycling Service page.

Drinks bottles and cans

These can be recycled - just put them in your recycling box for collection. Please rinse out your bottles before you put them out.

To find out what else can be recycled visit the Black Box page.

Duvets and pillows

If these are clean and in good condition, charity shops will take them. Unfortunately they cannot be recycled at textile banks.

E

Electrical goods

Torfaen residents wishing to recycle their waste electrical goods can take them to the Household Recycling Centre. Alternatively, if your items are in working use, you could try a local charity or eBay. 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.

F

Fabrics

Old fabric can be recycled in your black box.

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 in your brown caddy.

Foil

Foil can be recycled in your black box or reuse it.

Food

Food waste can be recycled by using the 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. They can remove furniture for free if it’s in good condition. Phone 01495 793187.

There are lots of companies who will take old furniture for recycling or you can donate it to charity shops and second-hand shops such as The Steelhouse.

G

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 collected by using the green bin. To find out when your green bin is collected visit the Bin Collection Days page.

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.

Glasses

Old glasses in good condition can be donated for developing countries around the world. Ask your local optician if they collect them.

Glass bottles and jars

Bottles and jars can be recycled. Just put them in your black box. To find else what can be recycled visit the Black Box page.

Grass cuttings

Grass can either go into your compost bin or can be put out in your green bin. To find out when your green bin will be collected visit the Bin Collection Days page. 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.

H

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 Black Box 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.

I

Inkjet cartridges

Many charities and organisations will take your used printer cartridges and recondition and refill them. They are then resold.

J

Jars

Glass jars can be recycled. Just put them in your black box. To find out what else can be recycled visit the Black Box page.

Junk mail

To reduce your junk mail, register with the Mailing Preference Service.

To stop unaddressed mail being delivered to your address, complete the Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Out Form.

Junk Mail can also be recycled in your black box.

K

Kitchen Caddy

Use your 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 in your brown caddy.

L

Labels

You don’t have to remove the labels from cans and bottles before placing them into your black box for recycling. Just remember to rinse them out before you recycle them.

Letters

These can be recycled in your black box .

Leaves

Leaves can be put into your compost bin or collected via your green bin. Information about composting is also available.

Light bulbs

Replace your light bulbs with energy saving ones. Old lightbulbs 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 you blue bag.

M

Magazines

Magazines can be recycled. Put them in your black box.

To find out when your collection is visit the Bin Collection Days page.

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 or glass bottles can be put in the black box for recycling.

Metal

Metal tins and cans can be recycled. Just put them out in your black box . Scrap metal can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre.

Milk bottles

Whilst it is preferable to return your milk bottles to your milkman for re-use, they can also be recycled in your black box.

Milk containers (plastic)

Rinse these out and recycle in your black box.

Mirrors

If they are intact and reusable try your local second hand furniture store. Alternatively, use Circulate Furniture Recycling.

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, call 01495 762200.

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

N

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. Please visit the following websites for more details:

Fill your pants
Little Treasures
The nappy lady

Newspapers

These can be recycled. Put them in your black box .

To find out what else can be recycled visit the Black Box Recycling Service page.

O

Office furniture

Recycle items through specialised companies such as Circulate Furniture Recycling. Phone 01495 793187.

Oil

Engine oil can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn.

Most cooking oils shouldn’t be composted – but a few can be composted in small amounts.

The benefit of adding waste cooking oil to a compost heap are vastly outweighed by the potential problems. Not only can they attract rodents and other undesirable creatures to your compost heap, they can cause problems for the composting process: the oils can form water-resistant barriers around other material, displace water and reduce air flow in a heap, thus slowing down the composting process. However, vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, corn oil or olive oil can be composted in very small quantities as long as they haven’t come into contact with any forbidden food stuffs (like meat, cheese or fish).

If you’ve soaked up a bit of oil with some kitchen roll, that’ll be ok to add but don’t pour the contents of a deep fat fryer into your compost bin.

Some people use leftover cooking oils that are solid at room temperature to make bird feeders (fat balls) for the garden. Waste cooking oil should NOT be poured down the sink – it can clog pipes and sewers.

P

Packaging

Most packaging such as glass, tins, cans, bottles, jars and plastic bottles can be recycled in your black box. Cardboard can be recycled in your Blue Bag or at some bring site and at the Household Recycling Centre. When you next go out shopping, make an active choice not to buy goods which have a lot of packaging (e.g. when buying fruit and vegetables, don't put them in a plastic bag, put them loose in your basket).

Paint

Paint can be recycled via the Community Repaint scheme run by CoStar. Telephone 01633 869227.

You can also take paint to the Household Recycling Centre.

Paper

All forms of paper can be recycled in your black box. Junk mail, letters, birthday cards and office paper – all can be added to your normal recycling.

Pet food

If your pet’s food comes in a can, it can be recycled. Rinse it out and recycle it in your black box . Pet food can be composted via your brown caddy . It is NOT suitable for home composting due to animal by-product regulations. Cat food pouches are made of metallised film and CANNOT be recycled

Plastic

We collect most types of mixed plastic in your black box.

Plastic bags

Over ten billion plastic bags are used each year - about 167 per person. They are not biodegradable and sit in landfill or 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.

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.

Pyrex glass

This cannot be recycled as it can explode when heated up in the glass recycling furnace. If you have broken pyrex glass, wrap it carefully and put it out with your normal rubbish collection.

Q

Questions

Do you have any questions? Call 01495 762200 or email street.scene@torfaen.gov.uk.

R

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 real nappies.

Recycling team

To contact the recycling team call 01495 762200 or email waste@torfaen.gov.uk.

Rubble

Soil and rubble can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre in New Inn.

S

Schools

Schools can recycle too. If you would like your school to get involved, phone 01495 762200 or email waste@torfaen.gov.uk.

Shredded Paper

Shredded paper can be recycled using the Black Box. Please ensure paper is bagged preferably in a see-through bag (No black bags).

T

Takeaway food containers

You can recycle clean takeaway trays (both foil and plastic types) in your black box

Telephones

Old phones can be sent back to BT. Contact customer services on 0800 800150

Tetra Pak

You can recycle tetrapak and other beverage cartons in your black box

Textiles

These can be recycled in your black box or taken to bring bank sites.

Timber and wood

Wood can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre at New Inn for recycling.

Tins

These can be recycled in your black box.

Toothpaste Tubes

Toothpaste Tubes can be recycled in your black box.

U

Unaddressed mail

To stop unaddressed mail being delivered to your address, complete the Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Out Form.

V

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