FAQs - Side Waste
What is side waste?
Side waste is excess waste that is presented alongside your allocated amount of refuse. The allocation for each household in Neath Port Talbot is one 140 litre wheeled bin or three black bags.
There is no limit on the amount of recycling we will collect.
Why are you introducing this policy?
Following guidelines set out by the Welsh Government, Neath Port Talbot Council have decided to introduce a no side waste policy. There is increasing evidence to show that implementing a no side waste policy reduces the overall amount of waste presented, and increases the amount of recyclable material put out for recycling.
Will you take any side waste? What happens if I put side waste out for collection?
No. The council will be monitoring the refuse collections and contacting residents who present side waste to help them reduce the amount of refuse waste being presented and increase the amount put out for recycling.
What happens if I continue to present side waste?
Residents that continue to present side waste and do not take part in recycling after the educational steps may be issued with a fixed penalty notice of up to £100.
How can I reduce the amount of waste in my black bin/bags?
Reduce the amount of waste in your black bin by being more environmentally aware of the products you are purchasing, making sure that the packaging or product can be recycled after its use.
You can find what materials we recycle on our recycling guide page at https://www.npt.gov.uk/5359 and present this as part of our weekly kerbside recycling collection.
If you have not already ordered your recycling kit, or you wish to order more recycling containers you can do this from the link above.
What can I do with my excess waste?
Excess waste can be sorted and presented in the suitable recycling containers and presented as part of our weekly kerbside recycling collections.
Alternatively, excess can be disposed of at your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre. Please be aware you will be asked to show that all black bags taken to our sites do not contain recyclable material. We advise that you sort the waste prior to your visit as there may be queues during peak hours.
Pwllafawatkin Recycling Centre will close on the 31st March 2019. From the 1st of April 2019 residents will be able to use the Lower Cwmtwrch site in Powys. Please be aware this site also operates a similar policy as above. Certain vehicles require a permit and opening times vary to that of Neath Port Talbot, please go onto our website to plan your visit. Information can be found online at https://www.npt.gov.uk/1463.
Please ensure that if you use a private waste removal company that they have the correct waste transfer licence and are disposing of your waste in the correct manner. You have a duty of care to ensure that your waste ends up at a licensed waste disposal facility (not a Household Waste and Recycling Centre). If the waste is illegally fly-tipped you may face a fine.
Can I have a larger bin?
No. Neath Port Talbot Council do not offer larger bins. Residents may be eligible for the exemption scheme if they recycle all that they can.
All applications can be completed online https://www.npt.gov.uk/7336 Please be aware that each application is assessed on an individual basis and must meet a certain conditions.
Why do we not have a weekly refuse collection?
The guidelines set out by the Welsh Government promote a service where there is a reduction in the collection frequency. Where a weekly food collection service is offered, a two weekly refuse collection was found to be sufficient. Evidence shows that a two weekly collection reduces the amount of waste put out by the household and increase the amount of material recycled.
What if I run a business from home?
If you run a business from home you need to keep this waste separate from your household waste. You will need to organise and pay for a trade collection and disposal service. If you do not have suitable arrangements it may result in your household waste not being collected.
Will this policy increase fly-tipping?
We expect the resident of Neath Port Talbot to dispose of their waste in the correct manner. This is either by using the kerbside collection service or recycling centres. From previous service changes, and in line with other councils now implementing a no side waste policy, we do not expect an increase in fly-tipping. In recent years there has been an overall decrease in the number of fly-tipping incidents.
Neath Port Talbot Council has the most proactive and successful enforcement team in Wales and will continue to monitor the levels of fly-tipping across Neath Port Talbot and enforce where necessary.
What if I am away and miss my collection?
If you have missed your waste collection and your bin has not been emptied, we cannot make arrangements to return to collect your waste. You will either have to wait until your next collection or dispose of your waste at your nearest recycling centre.
We offer a weekly kerbside recycling service. Please present your waste by 6am on the day of your collection or the evening before. If you are unsure of what day your collection is, you can check online at https://www.npt.gov.uk/2195
There are black bags still in my bin?
Please be aware that if you have compacted too many bags into your bin, some bags within the bin may not be emptied, even though our automated bin shaker facility is set to the optimum setting, the bags may not be emptied into the back of the refuse vehicle.
We will not return to collect bags that remain inside the bin after the collection and you will either need to wait till your next collection or dispose of your waste at your nearest recycling centre.
Collections over Christmas and New Year?
We will provide more information regarding the Christmas collections closer to the time.