Frequently Asked Questions about Recycling

These are a few of the most frequently asked questions that the council receives from residents about recycling and refuse. We hope that the answers below will help, but if there is still something you are unsure about please contact us on  01978 298989 or email contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk.

Why doesn’t Wrexham collect yoghurt pots and other plastic packaging in the green recycling box?

Unfortunately, we are currently unable to collect mixed plastic such as yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and various food packaging due to the lack of sustainable recycling markets for mixed plastic materials in the UK.

There are lots of different kinds of plastics which require different recycling processes, however almost all plastic bottles are made out of the same three types of plastic – this is why the majority of councils in the UK collect plastic bottles only.

We want to ensure that all materials collected from your recycling boxes can be recycled, and by collecting plastic bottles only, we can make sure this happens.

Back to top of page

Can we recycle plastic bottle lids?

No, lids are often made from a different type of plastic to the rest of the bottle and will therefore have different chemical properties. If the two are recycled together chemical reactions occur affecting the end product. As the lid is screwed on to the bottle it becomes difficult to remove automatically and so can contaminate the plastic by mixing the two types together.

Back to top of page

How clean do the recycled materials have to be?

It is advised that food tins are rinsed using the water that you have washed your dishes in, but take care with sharp edges. There is no need for these containers to be thoroughly cleaned using fresh running water, as long as any large amounts of food residues are taken out. Labels can be removed but it doesn’t matter if they aren’t, as this is part of the reprocessing stage.

Back to top of page

Can I have more than one green recycling box?

Just ring the contact centre on 01978 298989 to ask for extra boxes.

Back to top of page

Can I have another/new blue recycling bag?

If you require an extra blue bag please ask the Recycling Crew or pick one up from the Contact Wrexham Office, 16 Lord Street,    Wrexham, LL11 1LG.

Back to top of page

What do I do with shredded paper?

It is advised that you wrap your shredded paper in a sheet of newspaper before placing it in the blue bag. This will ensure that when the recycling crew empty your blue bag your shredded paper will enter the paper compartment and not disperse into the street.

Back to top of page

Why can’t we recycle plastic bags?

Most leading supermarkets offer recycling points for plastic bags, however three different types of plastic bags exist: biodegradable, non- biodegradable and compostable. There is no easy way to separate these and the three types cannot be recycled together. The best solution is to use re-useable or ‘bag for life’ shopping bags, which reduces the amount of carrier bags in circulation.

Back to top of page

Can I have another green garden/food waste bin?

If you require an extra green garden/food waste bin there is a charge of £11.00. Just ring the contact centre on 01978 298989 to make a purchase.

Back to top of page

Does the Council sell compostable liners for my kitchen caddy?

Yes, the Contact Wrexham Office, 16 Lord Street, Wrexham, LL11 1LG sells approved compostable liners. Qty:50 - £4.00 or Qty:10 - £1.00.

Back to top of page

What time should I put my refuse or recyclable materials out?

To ensure collection, refuse and recyclable waste must be available for collection by 7.30 am on the scheduled day, at the normal collection point. It should not be put out any earlier than the previous evening.

Back to top of page

What can I do if I have a large amount of cardboard?

There are cardboard recycling skips at all three of Wrexhams Household Recycling Centres for cardboard, remember to remove all contents before placing into the designated skip.

Back to top of page

Do you collect waxed cartons in the green box from the kerbside e.g. Tetra-pak?

No, as Tetra Pak is packaging used to store liquid food and drinks (e.g Juice and milk cartons). They are made from layers of cardboard, plastic and foil. At present in the UK there are few re-processors that are capable of recycling tetra-pak. However they can be taken to carton banks at several Neighbourhood Recycling Centres and all three Household Recycling Centres.

Back to top of page

Do you collect envelopes in the blue bag from the kerbside?

No unfortunately Wrexham does not accept envelopes as the glue on envelopes causes problems during the recycling process. Why not reuse your envelopes instead.

Back to top of page

What happens if I put the wrong items in my recycling box, bin or bag?

Contaminated recycling receptacles may be rejected. Our crews are instructed to ensure recycling receptacles have not been contaminated with waste and not to collect those that have been. This is because it will contaminate recyclables when they are sorted and could be dangerous to those who sort the recyclables by hand. Putting items which can't be recycled into your recycling box, bin or bag could lead to the rejection of an entire wagon load of recycling, which is approximately 2 tonnes worth of material. The black/blue bin is for all household waste and should not contain recyclables.

Back to top of page

Does the Council offer a service to clean my wheelie bin?

No, we do not offer this service. You can either clean the bin yourself using a long handled brush and some soapy water or find a private company by looking in your local telephone directory.

Back to top of page

I am unable to put my bin/box/bag out for collection. Will the council provide assistance?

The Council provides an assisted collection service for residents who are unable to put their bin/box/bag out for collection due to disability or infirmity. Please ring 01978 298989 to request a form for this service.

Back to top of page

Where does our recycling go?

Material Off -Take Contractor Address
Gypsum / Gypswm Alan Skip Hire Ltd Redwither Road
Wrexham Industrial Estate
Wrexham
North Wales
Ll13 9RD
Plastics - Hard / Plastigion - Caled Alan Skip Hire Ltd Redwither Road
Wrexham Industrial Estate
Wrexham
North Wales
Ll13 9RD
Cans - Steel / Caniau - Dur AMG Resources Ltd Suite 6
The Alcora Building
Micklow Hill
Halesowen
B62 8DG
Plastic Bottles / Poteli Plastig AWS Ecoplastics Unit 2
Britannia Business Park
Point Pleasant Ind Estate
Wallsend
NE28 6HA
Engine Oil / Olew Peiriannau B.O.S Waste Oils Ltd 11 Swireford Road
Helsby
Frodsham
West Cheshire & Chester
WA6 9BA
Timber / Pren Bodens & Davis Ltd Minshulls Farm
Lower Green
Astley
Manchester
M29 7JZ
Batteries -Household / Batris - Cartref Electrical Waste Recycling Group School Lane
Kirkheaton
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD5 0JS
WEEE -Fluorescent Tubes / WEEE - Tiwbiau Fflworolau Electrical Waste Recycling Group School Lane
Kirkheaton
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD5 0JS
WEEE - Large Domestic Appliances/ WEEE - Taclau Cartref Mawr European Metal Recycling Ltd Head Office Warrington
Sirrus House
Delta Crescent
Westbrook
WA5 7NS
WEEE - Small Electrical Appliances / WEEE - Taclau Trydanol Bach Electrical Waste Recycling Group School Lane
Kirkheaton
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD5 0JS
WEEE - TV's & Monitors / WEEE - Setiau Teledu a Monitorau Electrical Waste Recycling Group School Lane
Kirkheaton
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD5 0JS
Scrap Metals / Metelau Sgrap European Metal Recycling Ltd (Liverpool) Warrington
Sirrus House
Delta Crescent
Westbrook
WA5 7NS
Batteries -Vehicle / Batris - Cerbydau European Metal Recycling Ltd(Liverpool) Head Office Warrington
Sirrus House
Delta Crescent
Westbrook
WA5 7NS
Textiles / Tecstilau I & G Cohen Ltd Castle Works
Bazzar Street
Pendleton
Salford
M6 6GS
Cans-Aluminium / Caniau – Alwminiwm Novelis Ltd Latchford Lock Works
Latchford
Warrington
WA5 7NS
Newspapers, Magazines & Card / Papurau Newydd, Cylchgronau a Cherdyn Palm Paper Recycling Limited Puddlers Lane
South Tees Ind Est
South Bank
Middlesborough
Glass / Gwydr Glass
Recressco Ltd		 Lane End
Urban Road
Kirkby in Ashfield
Nottingham
NG17 8AP
Chemicals -Domestic / Cemigion - Cartref Reids 67 Whitchurch Road
Great Boughton
Chester
West Cheshire & Chester
CH3 5QB
Cardboard / Cardbord Severnside Ltd Ty Gwyrdd
12 Beddau Way
Caerphilly
South Wales
CF83 2AX
Tyres / Teiars Wrecsam Wrecycling Ltd Bersham Transfer Station
Plas Grono Road
Rhostyllen
Wrexham
Ll14 4EG
Rubble Clean / Rwbel Glân Wrexham County Borough Council. Llay Depot
Miners Road
Llay Industrial Estate, Wrexham

back to the top