Over 155,000 tonnes of waste recycled in four years

New figures show Bridgend County Borough has recycled over 155,000 tonnes of waste in the last four years – the equivalent weight of 26,000 African bush elephants.

The county borough which has one of the highest recycling rates in Wales now recycles over 69 per cent of waste, up from 46 per cent in 2010.

Between 2017 and 2021, almost 32,000 tonnes of food waste has been recycled, just over 26,000 tonnes of paper and card recycled and 17,500 tonnes of glass waste. Meanwhile, 12,000 tonnes of plastic waste has been recycled, 7,700 tonnes of metal waste and 3,700 tonnes of electrical waste.

On average each person has generated 856kg of waste during the four-year period – the equivalent weight of about ten red kangaroos.

When it comes to absorbent hygiene products, more than 4,350 tonnes have been recycled via the council’s ‘purple bag’ scheme. This involves processing items ranging from children’s nappies to adult incontinence pads, turning the cellulose fibres into fibre boards and acoustic panelling. 

Meanwhile, food waste from homes across the county borough is converted into electricity using the anaerobic digestion plant at Stormy Down to power our homes and local communities. It also produces a soil enhancer to help crops grow.

Over the past four years, the Cleaner Streets Team have cleared just over 4,000 tonnes of fly-tipped waste while just over 3,200 tonnes of garden waste has been taken away for composting.

And a new contract with Derwen Recycling Ltd is now putting even more emphasis on recycling with items placed in public litter bins across the county borough being recycled.

Over the past decade, our recycling rates have soared and it is in large part to the way our residents have embraced the new arrangements which came in four years ago.

We would really like to thank our residents - recycling is one of the easiest ways we can help tackle climate change from our homes as it helps to conserve natural resources and save energy, slowing down the effects of climate change.

We would also like to pay tribute to Kier’s waste and recycling collectors who walk between seven and ten miles every day, and carry up to four tonnes of waste. None of this could have been achieved without them.

Deputy leader Hywel Williams