Recycling FAQs 
Why recycle?
Most of our rubbish is sent to
landfill; space is running out. We must stop building landfill
sites. Recycling helps to conserve natural resources, preventing
emissions of greenhouses gases and water pollutants and helps
to save energy.
What's happening locally?
Vale of Glamorgan Council is a partner in
Prosiect Gwyrdd
with four other councils in south Wales, which are Caerphilly,
Cardiff, Newport and Monmouthshire. Combined, these
council residents produce 40% of the total of Welsh municipal
waste. We must find a long-term solution to reduce waste that
cannot be recycled or composted.
Are there targets to meet?
Yes, set by the Welsh Government who has
outlined a 70% recycling and composting rate by 2025. By the end of
2013. We must achieve 52%, a figure we are hopeful of reaching
given your tremendous commitment
Can one household make a difference by recycling?
Yes. 85% of the contents of an average
households black bag needn’t be there. Did you know one
recycled aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television
for three hours?
Is it true some items I leave out for recycling do not get
recycled?
No. We recycle all materials placed
out kerbside. They are handled by our contractor, Biffa. Materials
are not stockpiled or sent to landfill.
What happens to my recycling?
Kitchen and garden waste are taken to a local
farm and turned into a soil enhancer, which Vale residents can collect free.
Products like paper, cans, glass, cardboard and plastics are
handled by Biffa. Cans typically stay in Wales (used in steel
manufacturing), plastics are sent to a Midlands based plant
(recycled into plastic products such as bags), glass goes to Europe
for bottle making.
How will I manage if carrier bags run out?
The Welsh Government introduced a charge
of 5p for single use bags in 2011. You can buy long-lasting bags or
use the Council's recycling boxes for your kerbside collection -
these are free to residents.
When do the recycling centres open?
They open 362 days a year (except Christmas Day, Boxing
Day and New Year's Day) for Vale residents only to use.
What can be recycled at the sites at Llandow and
Atlantic Trading Estate, Barry?
Everything you recycle kerbside, plus
household batteries, electrical items, car oil, scrap metal
and textiles.
Contact
For more information telephone: 01446 700111
or email: visible@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk