People can now recycle their babies' disposable nappies in the Neath Port Talbot Council area. The local authority has expanded its bin collection services to offer a free fortnightly collection for disposable nappies and "absorbent hygiene products" (AHP), separate to the usual black bin bag collection.
The new service has been introduced to help Neath Port Talbot make steps towards the Welsh Government's ambitious recycling target for three years' time - that 70% of household waste is recycled after use. Residents wanting to use the service do not need to inform the council each time they want their AHP products to be collected, they just need to order a "roll of purple bags" from the council website and place the filled bags at the kerbside on their typical rubbish collection day.
The pilot scheme is set to run for 12 months and resident feedback would be "gratefully received," the council said. Residents can contact environment@npt.gov.uk, should they wish to share their views and experiences with disposable waste and AHP collections. You can get more Neath and Port Talbot news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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A statement from Neath Port Talbot Council explained: "Neath Port Talbot residents will now be able to present disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products like incontinence pads and absorbent bedsheets separately as part of their kerbside collection service. From August 1, Neath Port Talbot Council is launching a free fortnightly collection service for these absorbent hygiene products (AHP) so they can be presented separately instead of being put in with black bag waste.
"Wales is the UK’s top recycling nation and one of the leading recycling countries worldwide but more must be done to meet the Welsh Government’s ambitious 70% recycling target by 2025. There’s no need to apply for the new service which involves AHP products being placed in purple bags – to get these just order, a roll of 52 bags online from August 1 at www.npt.gov.uk/recycle.
"As part of the new service the council will have two special collection lorries equipped with a separate pod for nappies etc. Long term, the Welsh Government aims to establish a dedicated All Wales treatment facility for AHP products and new collection services such as the one in Neath Port Talbot will indicate the kind of tonnages the facility could expect.
"In the new purple bags the council will take: nappies including nappy bags and wipes, adult incontinence pads and nappies, absorbent bed sheets, disposable aprons, plastic gloves and stoma bags."
For more information about the service, and to order your purple bags, go here.
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