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?

Currently Wrexham Council operate a kerbside sorting collection service which does only take the plastic bottles. Plastic bottles are currently yielding high quality and consistent recycling/reprocessing outlets. Mixed plastics tend to be of a lesser quality with fewer recycling options as the market for plastics is still evolving.

Together with our Waste Management contractor we do continually review where our recyclates go to, which are the best materials to collect, how to collect them and where the best markets are. We would hope that in the future as the recycled plastics markets evolve we will be able to take on different types of plastics on the kerbside.

If you do wish to recycle plastics other than bottles they can be taken to one of the three Household Recycling Centres at Bryn Lane. Plas Madoc or Brymbo.

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 £11.50. 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

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		 EMR Manchester (Salford) West Egerton Street
Manchester
M5 4DY
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		 Oakwood Fuels Ltd Brailswood Road
Bilsthorpe Industrial Estate
Bilsthorpe
Newark, Notts
NG22 8UA
Timber /
Pren		 Bodens & Davis Ltd Minshulls Farm
Lower Green
Astley
Manchester
M29 7JZ
Mattresses /
Matresi		 Entrec Ltd Redwither Road
Wrexham Industrial Estate
Wrexham
LL13 9RD
Carpets /
Carpedi		 Equestrian Services ECO2 ECO2 Enterprises LLP
Phoenix Works
Phoenix Way
Smallshaw Industrial Estate
Burnley
BB11 5SX
Media Banks (video’s, dvd’s, c/d’s etc) /
Blychau Cyfryngau (fideos, DVD, CD ac ati)		 I & G Cohen Ltd Castle Works
Bazzar Street
Pendleton
Salford
M6 6GS
Paints /
Paent		 Oakwood Fuels Ltd Brailswood Road
Bilsthorpe Industrial Estate
Bilsthorpe
Newark, Notts
NG22 8UA
Clean Soils /
Pridd glan		 FCC Pen-y-Bont Information Area
Newbridge
Near Chirk
Wrexham
LL14 5AR
Batteries - Household /
Batris - Cartref		 G & P Batteries Crescent Works Industrial Park
Willenhall Road
Darlaston
Wednesbury
West Midlands
WS10 8JR
Fridges & Freezers /
Rhewgelloedd ac Oergelloedd		 European Metal Recycling Ltd Bentley Road South
Darlaston
Wednesbury
West Midlands
WS10 8LW
WEEE - Fluorescent Tubes /
WEEE - Tiwbiau Fflworolau		 Wiser Waste Information Ltd Manor View
Bridge Street
St Ives
Cambridgeshire
WEEE - Large Domestic Appliances/
WEEE - Taclau Cartref Mawr		 European Metal Recycling Ltd Alexandra Building
Alexandra Doc 1
Bootle
L20 1BX
WEEE - Small Electrical Appliances /
WEEE - Taclau Trydanol Bach		 Sunersol Ltd Flush Mills
Westgate
Heckmondwike
West Yorkshire
WF16 0EN
WEEE - TV’s & Monitors /
WEEE - Setiau Teledu a Monitorau		 Sunersol Ltd Flush Mills
Westgate
Heckmondwike
West Yorkshire
WF16 0EN
Scrap Metals /
Metelau Sgrap		 European Metal Recycling Ltd (Liverpool) Alexandra Building
Alexandra Doc 1
Bootle
L20 1BX
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
Middlesbrough
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