Following a trial, we are introducing separate recycling collections across the city in 2024.
36,000 properties changed to separate recycling collections in February 2024.
We will contact you when your property is moving to separate recycling collections and will deliver the new containers with an information leaflet.
If you have green bags left over once separate recycling collections begin please give them to someone who is still on green bag collections or you can find an alternative use for them.
Once the separate collections start for your property, we will no longer collect green recycling bags and they will not be available from stockists.
If you live in a block of flats with communal recycling bin collections, this change will not affect you.
Using your new sacks and caddy
You will use a:
Blue caddy
This caddy is for your:
- glass bottles, and
- jars.
We will collect your blue caddy fortnightly on the same week as your general waste.
Red sack
This sack is for your:
- metal cans, tins, aerosols and foil,
- plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, and
- food and drink cartons, such as Tetra Pak.
We will collect your red sack weekly.
Blue sack
This sack is for your:
We will collect your blue sack weekly.
The red sack is for containers, such as plastic bottles, tubs and trays and cans or tins.
Items you can put in the red sack are:
-
plastic toiletry bottles, like shampoo and shower gel,
-
plastic cleaning bottles, like bleach and trigger sprays,
-
plastic drinks bottles, like milk, water and soft drinks,
-
plastic containers, like fruit punnets, yoghurt pots, and cake trays,
-
plastic takeaway cartons and lids,
-
aerosols, like deodorant sprays,
-
metal drinks cans, like beer and soft drinks,
-
metal food tins, like beans and soups,
-
Tetra Pak, and
- foil and foil cartons.
Items that do not go in the red sack are:
-
plastic carrier bags,
-
soft plastics, like cling or plastic film,
-
cheese wrapping or bread bags,
- crisp packets,
- pet food pouches,
- plastic blister packs, like for medicines,
- toothbrushes or toothpaste tubes,
- razors and razor blades,
- empty gas lighters,
- empty gas canisters,
- hard plastics, such as childrens toys,
- plant pots, and
- Tupperware containers.
Items you can put in the blue sack are:
- card and cardboard boxes,
- egg cartons,
- toilet roll tubes,
- cereal boxes,
- toothpaste boxes,
- paper, newspapers and magazines,
- envelopes and letters, and
- printer paper and shredded paper.
Shredded paper can be put in a separate carrier bag and placed on top of the blue sack for collection.
Items that do not go in the blue sack are:
- food and drink cartons, like Tetra Pak,
- polystyrene,
- plastic film or packaging,
- wallpaper,
- wrapping paper, or
- tissues, paper towels and kitchen roll.
Items you can put in the blue caddy are:
- glass bottles, like beer wine and soft drinks, and
- glass jars, like sauce jars and baby food.
Items that do not go in the blue caddy are:
- ceramics or china,
- drinking glasses,
- broken glass,
- glass panes,
- light bulbs, or
- pyrex.
Storage and sorting your recycling inside
You may want to have separate bins within your kitchen to separate your recycling. You could also mix recyclables in your kitchen and then sort into the sacks or caddy regularly, or before collection day.
If you do not produce much recycling, or have concerns about storing or handling the sacks, smaller ones are available. These can be collected from some Hubs.
You can pick up smaller sacks from:
- Ely and Caerau Hub
- Grangetown Hub
- Gabalfa and Llandaff North Hub
- Powerhouse Hub
- Radyr Hub
- Rhiwbina Hub
- Star Hub
- St Mellons Hub
Replacement and additional sacks and caddy
If you need an extra or replacement sack, you can collect them from some Hubs.
If you cannot get to the Hub, you can order a sack online.
If you need an extra or replacement caddy, you can order online.
If you put recycling out that is not in one of your containers, we will not collect it.
You will only be able to pick up sacks and caddies and order them online once your area has moved over to the new collections.
What to do on collection day
You will need to separate your recycling into your new containers.
Please do not overfill your sacks. You can get additional sacks if you need them.
You must make sure the containers are closed using the Velcro on the flap and handle.
Your waste must be put out for collection by 6am on the day of your collection, or no earlier than 4:30pm the day before your collection.
If you have help putting your bins and bags out, you do not need to reapply. You do not need stickers for your new sacks and caddy.
To collect your recycling we are using vehicles with two separate compartments. The recycling from the blue sack goes into one side of the vehicle and the recycling from the red sack goes into the other. We have a different vehicle to collect the glass jars and bottles.
We have had a few issues with the new vehicles and, in some cases, have had to use general waste vehicles to collect your recycling. Please be assured this has not had a negative impact on the quality of the recycling materials you have separated for collection.
Contact us
If you have not received your new sacks and caddy, you can
order the sacks and caddies online. We will deliver them as soon as possible. While you are waiting, please use any other type of sack. For example, a reusable carrier bag. Please do not use green recycling bags.
If you have any questions about the recycling changes or you need some help using the new service, you can complete the online form.