Neath Port Talbot Council is thanking all its residents for the increase in recycling performance during April to June this year.

It meant a giant 1,769 tonne reduction in residual household waste (black bag / wheelie bin rubbish that does not get recycled, re-used or composted) compared to the same three months last year.

The considerate and environmentally friendly approach to dealing with household waste has led to a recycling rate of 63.51% in this year’s first quarter. This has also contributed to making Wales as a whole one of the top four recycling nations in the World.

However, a slight increase is now needed for the remainder of the year so that we can meet the Welsh Government’s overall 64% target for 2019/20.

Increasing food recycling is regarded as a sure way to match or even beat the 64% target. An analysis of residual household waste in Neath Port Talbot found food was by far the biggest item not being recycled.

This is essential to Neath Port Talbot Council achieving the Welsh Government’s recycling target which is due to rise to 70% by 2025.

There are many good reasons for recycling food – not just helping local authorities meet the Welsh Government targets.

Where food waste is sent to landfill instead of being recycled, it rots, producing methane, which is 25 times more damaging as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

If we all stopped wasting the food which could have been eaten, it would have the same CO2 impact as taking 1 in 4 cars off UK roads.

Residents are also being reminded to take advantage of their local Household Waste Recycling Centres where many of the things that cannot be recycled as part of your kerbside collection will be accepted at one our recycling centres.

There are three Household Waste Recycling Centres available to the residents of Neath Port Talbot located at Briton Ferry, Cymmer and Lower Cwmtwrch.

As a resident of Neath Port Talbot, to make use of the above facilities you must be recycling or disposing of your own household waste. You can take all these materials to our recycling centres: Newspapers, magazines and cardboard, glass bottles and jars, sheet glass, metal cans, plastics, vehicle or household batteries, waste mineral (engine) oil, fluorescent light bulbs/ tubes, carpets, furniture, mattresses, empty gas bottles, household paint, textiles and shoes, garden waste, scrap metal, wood/timber, waste electrical and electronic equipment.

Cllr Ted Latham, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Engineering, said: “I want to thank all our residents – due to their recycling we have collected 1,769 tonnes less residual waste during April to June this year compared to the same period last year.

“All councils in Wales have to achieve challenging recycling targets.

"The Welsh Government has set out a requirement for all councils in Wales to increase their recycling, with targets of 64% having to be achieved this year and 70% by 2024-25.

“Strict fines will be imposed on local councils if the targets are missed, which is why we are asking every household in Neath Port Talbot to recycle everything they can.

"Our excellent first quarter recycling rate of 63.51% is a tribute to our residents and by doing a little more, especially on food recycling, we can meet our target this year.”