Be Mighty and Recycle This Christmas

Our Mighty crews and residents have already shown 2020 that despite the current pandemic we are Mighty Recyclers here in RCT!

This Christmas we’re asking RCT residents to continue their mighty work and to fill their clear bags and food waste bags with all their extra mighty Christmas recycling and ensure that we all have a waste free New Year!

With the Welsh Government announcement that Christmas can now be enjoyed as part of an extended, three household bubble – we can look forward to celebrating within the guidelines. The festive period often includes lots of food and presents and it is estimated that household waste increases by over 30% during this time – which means lots of extra recycling!

Residents can enjoy a waste free holiday by recycling all their unavoidable food waste (turkey bones, plate scrapings etc), extra plastic bottles, pots, wrapping paper, Christmas cards, real Christmas trees, tubs and trays, metal cans, glass bottles, jars, cardboard packaging, batteries and lots more, during the festive season.

Despite all that 2020 has thrown at RCT residents, their Mighty Recycling efforts has led to over 37,700 tonnes of recycling being collected since April!

That’s the equivalent weight of 1178 fully loaded recycling lorries. If residents continue these efforts over the festive period, together we are on target to have a ‘Mighty Waste Free Holiday’.

The food waste recycling scheme is also reaching festive new highs with more and more residents saying they recycle their food waste. Food waste now accounts for almost 20% of what is collected every month.

Of course, the easiest items to recycle at Christmas are all the plastic and paper/cardboard packaging that you’ll come across during the festive period. So after the presents are unwrapped and you’re wondering how to clear away the mountain of boxes, paper bags and wrapping paper – simply pick up your clear recycling bag and fill it up. But please remember to put ALL wrapping

paper in to a separate CLEAR bag, including foil or glitter wrapping paper. Also, flatten any cardboard boxes and paper bags to make space in your recycling.

To free up even more space you can also visit one of the local community recycling centres (crc) to dispose of your non-kerbside items such as clothes, old toys and electrical items – please ensure you sort your waste before visiting, are not symptomatic and adhere to the current Covid-19 CRC rules (www.rctcbc.gov.uk/CRCsrules).

Our centres are open from 8am until 5.30pm every day except for a 3.30pm closure on 24th and 31st December and complete closure on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Sunday 27th December and New Years Day. .

Visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/ChristmasRecycling for full details.

Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services, said:

“I’d like to wish all our residents a waste free holiday and thank each and every one of them for supporting a greener future for RCT all year round.

“The festive period means extra waste and it’s a great time to find your inner elf and think green and recycle all the additional packaging, wrapping paper, cards and batteries.

“Rhondda Cynon Taf Council continues to support people and is encouraging residents to keep up the good work all year round. The Council provides an accessible and innovative recycling service, complemented by ongoing public education and awareness-raising.

“The support of our householders towards our food waste kerbside recycling has been amazing so far, and this is thanks to our residents all doing their bit.

“Keep up the great work and let’s make 2021 a Mighty Waste Free New Year.”

Changes to collections over the Festive Period:

Your weekly collections for recycling, food, nappies and black bag waste will change during Christmas and New Year weeks.

Collections due on Friday 25th December will be collected on Monday 28th December and Monday – Wednesday collections that week will skip a day – Monday moves to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, Wednesday to Thursday.

Thursday (31st) and Friday (1st) collections will then skip two days, with Thursday’s being collected on Saturday and Friday’s on Sunday.

Normal Collections will resume on Monday 4th January 2021.

All refuse and recycling (including nappies and food waste recycling) should be placed at its normal collection point by 7am on the revised collection days below –

Normal Collection Day Revised Collection Day

Monday 21st December No Change

Tuesday 22nd December No Change

Wednesday 23rd December No Change

Thursday 24th December No Change

Friday 25th December No Collection, moved to Monday 28th December

Saturday 26th December No Collection

Sunday 27th December No Collection

Monday 28th December Collections from 25th December

Tuesday 29th December Collections from 28th December

Wednesday 30th December Collections from 29th December

Thursday 31st December Collections from 30th December

Friday 1st January 2021 No collections

Saturday 2nd January 2021 Collections from 31st December

Sunday 3rd January 2021 Collections from 1st January 2021

Monday 4th January 2021 Normal Services Resumes

Other services such as bulky waste collections and wheelie bin/food waste bin deliveries will be suspended from Thursday 24th December to allow us to use as many resources as possible to collect the anticipated record amounts of Mighty recycling this Christmas. Normal services will resume from Monday 11th January.

Real Christmas Tree Collections and Green Waste:

From 7th December residents will be able to book in their ‘real’ Christmas trees for kerbside collection between 4th January until 15th January. Residents must book their ‘real’ Christmas tree collections online at least 24 hours before their revised collection day – www.rctcbc.gov.uk/ChristmasTrees as they won’t be automatically collected.

The fortnightly green waste collection service (including ‘real’ Christmas trees not booked for a collection) will be suspended from Thursday 24th December with normal services resuming on Monday 18th January 2021. Your green waste however including Christmas trees can still be taken to your local CRC throughout the festive period.

Please remember to place ALL refuse and recycling out before 7am on your collection day and not before as this can lead to spillages and difficulties for pedestrians using the pavement.

If we have not collected your refuse/recycling as planned, please leave it at the kerbside as we may be working additional hours to clear a back log and we’ll get to you asap – our crews can work well in to the evening during busy periods and extra staff can sometimes be called in to clear the items the next day.

Residents are advised to visit one of the many collection points across Rhondda Cynon Taf before the festive period and stock up on recycling bags or order bags in advance online at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/bags.

The Streetcare Team would also like to remind residents to park sensibly, so that they can get the recycling truck down your street.

For more information and tips on recycling your Christmas waste follow us on Facebook or Twitter or visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/christmasrecycling