A TEAM of recycling experts from Neath Port Talbot Council will be hitting the streets later this month, to help introduce people to their new and improved recycling service.

The ‘Recycle+’ system is part of the Council’s work to increase recycling rates in the borough, to help hit the Welsh Government’s strict statutory targets for recycling and composting.

Residents on the new Recycle+ scheme will have new equipment delivered, which will include two boxes; one for glass and one for textiles and paper, plus a new reusable bag for storing five types of materials. This means that plastic bags will now only need to be used for garden waste. The new service also enables the Council to collect plastics on a weekly basis, as well as offering recycling of additional materials from home such as household batteries.

The switch to the new service includes the rollout of six specialist recycling vehicles. The trucks enable a range of materials to be collected in a single vehicle, including plastics, aluminium and steel cans, glass, paper, food, cardboard textiles and batteries.

Over the next few weeks, the Council will start delivering the Recycle+ equipment to homes in parts of Pontardawe and Ystalyfera.

A leaflet explaining the improvements, with pictures showing the bag and boxes and what goes in them, will be delivered with the new kit and will also be available at the roadshows being held in each area.

The roadshows offer residents the opportunity to speak to the Council’s Recycling Officers and to see how the new equipment and collection vehicles work.

Deputy Leader, Cllr. Peter Rees, said, “The benefits of increasing recycling in Neath Port Talbot are significant for both our environment and for our taxpayers and this vital new service provides our residents with even more opportunity to recycle.

“We hope that having our Recycling team available to the public at these roadshows will help to clarify anything that residents may be unsure of with our Recycle+ service.”

More information about the Recycle+ service can be found on the Council’s website, www.npt.gov.uk/recycle

The dates of the Recycle+ roadshows are:

• Friday, July 25: Rhos community hall from 5.30pm-7pm.

• Friday, August 8: Pontardawe fire station from 5.30pm-7pm.

• Friday, August 15: Asda car park, Ystalyfera from 5.30pm-7pm.