Cardiff

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Waste Management and Recycling

Sections

1. Waste Categories

Cardiff Council categorizes waste into several types to facilitate proper disposal and recycling. These categories include:

a. General Waste (Non-Recyclable)

  • Items that cannot be recycled, such as certain plastics, polystyrene, and sanitary products.
  • Collected in green wheelie bins or red-striped bags (for properties without wheelie bins).

b. Dry Recycling

  • Includes paper, cardboard, glass bottles, jars, cans, tins, and plastic containers.
  • Collected in green recycling bags (provided free by the council).

c. Food Waste

  • Includes all cooked and uncooked food, tea bags, coffee grounds, and small bones.
  • Collected in brown food caddies (kitchen caddies are also provided for convenience).

d. Garden Waste

  • Includes grass cuttings, leaves, branches, and other garden debris.
  • Collected in reusable green garden waste sacks (seasonal collection only, typically March to November).

e. Bulky Waste

  • Large items such as furniture, mattresses, and appliances.
  • Requires a special collection request (fees apply).

f. Hazardous Waste

  • Includes items like paint, chemicals, and batteries.
  • Must be taken to designated recycling centers or disposed of through special services.

g. Electrical and Electronic Waste (WEEE)

  • Includes items like TVs, computers, and small appliances.
  • Can be taken to recycling centers or collected via bulky waste services.

2. Recycling Procedures

Cardiff has a straightforward recycling system to encourage participation:

a. Sorting Waste

  • Residents are required to separate waste into the appropriate categories (e.g., food waste in brown caddies, recyclables in green bags).
  • Clear instructions are provided on the council website and through leaflets.

b. Recycling Bags and Caddies

  • Green recycling bags and brown food caddies are provided free of charge.
  • Residents can collect green bags from local hubs, libraries, or order them online for delivery.

c. Preparing Recycling

  • Rinse containers to remove food residue.
  • Flatten cardboard to save space.
  • Remove lids from glass bottles and jars.

d. Garden Waste

  • Use the reusable green sacks provided by the council.
  • Ensure no soil, stones, or plastic is included.

3. Collection Schedules

Cardiff Council operates a weekly collection service for most waste types. The schedule is as follows:

a. General Waste

  • Collected every two weeks (alternating with garden waste during the collection season).

b. Recycling

  • Collected weekly.

c. Food Waste

  • Collected weekly.

d. Garden Waste

  • Collected fortnightly during the collection season (March to November).

e. Bulky Waste

  • Collection must be booked in advance, and fees apply.

How to Check Your Collection Day:

4. Associated Costs

Most waste and recycling services are free for residents, but there are some exceptions:

a. Free Services

  • Weekly collection of recycling and food waste.
  • Provision of green recycling bags and food caddies.

b. Paid Services

  • Bulky Waste Collection: ยฃ12.50 for up to two items, ยฃ25 for three to four items.
  • Additional Garden Waste Sacks: ยฃ2.50 per sack (if more than the standard allocation is needed).
  • Replacement Wheelie Bins: ยฃ25 (if lost or damaged).

5. Recycling and Waste Disposal Sites

Cardiff has two main recycling centers for residents to dispose of additional waste:

a. Lamby Way Recycling Centre

  • Address: Lamby Way, Rumney, Cardiff, CF3 2HP.
  • Services: General waste, recycling, garden waste, electrical items, hazardous waste.
  • Booking: Visits must be pre-booked online.

b. Bessemer Close Recycling Centre

  • Address: Bessemer Close, Leckwith, Cardiff, CF11 8XH.
  • Services: Same as Lamby Way.
  • Booking: Pre-booking required.

c. Local Considerations

  • Proof of residency (e.g., a utility bill or driving license) is required to use the recycling centers.
  • Vans and trailers may need a permit.

6. Guidelines for Residents and Visitors

  • Bag Limits: Households are limited to a certain number of general waste bags (e.g., three red-striped bags per fortnight) to encourage recycling.
  • Contamination: Incorrectly sorted recycling (e.g., food waste in green bags) will not be collected.
  • Missed Collections: Report missed collections online or via the Cardiff Gov app.
  • Seasonal Adjustments: Collection schedules may change during holidays (e.g., Christmas), so check the council website for updates.

7. Tips for Visitors

  • If staying in short-term accommodation (e.g., Airbnb), check with your host about waste disposal procedures.
  • Public recycling bins are available in the city center for items like cans, bottles, and paper.
  • Avoid littering, as Cardiff enforces fines for improper waste disposal.

8. Sustainability Initiatives

Cardiff is committed to becoming a zero-waste city by 2050. Residents and visitors are encouraged to:

  • Reduce single-use plastics.
  • Use reusable bags and containers.
  • Participate in community clean-up events.

By following these guidelines, residents and visitors can contribute to Cardiffโ€™s efforts to maintain a clean and sustainable environment. For more information, visit the official Cardiff Council website: Cardiff Council Waste Management.