Torfaen Council may soon collect soft plastics at home. They’re developing plans to improve recycling rates in the borough.
Someone named Alison was surprised recently. The council did not take her plastic bag. It had “soft plastic” inside, she learned. She sorts waste carefully, Alison stated. She thought only plastic was in the bag.
Monmouthshire doesn’t take soft plastics. They must remove such plastics when sorting. Education officers check bags for errors. They advise folks if wrong items are found. You can recycle soft plastics at supermarkets.
Torfaen is creating a new recycling plan. This borough has lagged in Welsh recycling. The draft plan covers 2025 to 2030. The goal is 70 percent recycling by then.
Monmouthshire did well in 2023/24. Their rate was 72 percent, second best. They were one of eight hitting 70 percent already. Torfaen only recycled 64 percent then. Still, that was better than before.
Improving recycling services is key. The goals include more recycling overall. They need the right facilities ready to go. Boosting business recycling also appears in the plan. Waste reduction and greener services are vital.
They plan to use digital tools for better recycling. They want better data on assisted collections. This will help people who can’t manage bins.
The council wants to recycle more things. They will review curb collections. Consider things like nappies and soft plastic. Small electrical waste may become recyclable.
Repair cafes and reuse efforts get support. This prevents items from being thrown away. They’ll work with flat owners and landlords. This lets people recycle easily at home.
They agreed to create an enforcement team. This team ensures waste and recycling rules are followed. They even have the power to issue fines if needed.