Wales is one of the top recyclers in the world and everyone who lives in Wales has a responsibility to get rid of their waste and recycling responsibly.
The way waste and recycling should be sorted and collected depends on where you live. For many homes in Cardiff, the local authority, Cardiff Council, provides recycling and waste collections. While in student halls and purpose-built flats, there may be different rules for disposing of recycling and waste.
Check out our guidance to find out how you can get rid of waste and recycling the right way.
Changes to Recycling Containers in Cathays and Plasnewydd
Cardiff Council is changing the way it collects recycling and will be providing residents with new recycling containers to help households recycle more.
For more information, visit the Cardiff Council website or download the Cathays and Plasnewydd Recycling Information Pack.
Your collection day and what containers are collected each week depends on where you live in Cardiff. To find out your collection, visit Cardiff Council’s Check your collection dates online or download the “Cardiff Gov” app.
If you are using the Cardiff Gov App, you can opt in for notifications to remind you when to put your bags and bins out.
Your recycling and general waste containers must be put out on the pavement to be collected, before 6:00am on the day of collection, or no earlier than 4:30pm the day before.
Please return your emptied bin (if you have one) and food caddy inside your property boundary by 9am the day after collection.
Your general waste is only for items that CANNOT be recycled.
You can find out what can and cannot go into your general waste by visiting the Recycling Toolkit page or by visiting Cardiff Council’s A-Z of Recycling.
The amount of general waste you can put out is strictly limited, so it is important to recycle as much as possible. Please do not leave extra bags of waste or other items out for collection as these will not be collected, and you can receive a fixed penalty notice and fine.
Bags or Bins?
To find out whether your property uses bins or bags for general waste collections enter your postcode on the council’s website or download the “Cardiff Gov” app.
The results will show your next 2 collection dates and whether your property should have a bin or use bags for general waste collections.
If your property has a wheeled bin collection of general waste, the property owner should ensure that there is one present at the start of tenancy. Replacements for lost or stolen wheeled bins cost £25 and can be arranged by calling 029 2087 2087.
All households in Cardiff should have recycling containers, but the type of containers that you should use at your property recycling depends on where you live. To find out what containers you should be using, visit Cardiff Council’s Check Your Collection page and enter your address. This will show your next two collections and the containers that you should use at your property.
If you are missing any recycling containers or need more food waste liners, you can pick up these up from a local stocklist site. You can find a stocklist site by visiting Cardiff Council’s Get More Bags or Caddies Page or through the Cardiff Gov App.
Remember, you are responsible for sorting your household’s waste into the correct recycling, food waste or general waste container. If you aren’t sure what to do with an item, visit Cardiff Council’s A-Z Recycling Page, where you can search for that item and find out how you can dispose of it using the Council’s waste services.
Food waste is collected every week in Cardiff.
Food waste bags/caddies are provided free of charge from Cardiff Council. You can find your nearest stocklist on the “Cardiff Gov” app or order them online for a home delivery.
Food caddies are for all your unwanted cooked or raw food, including fruit and vegetable peelings, left-overs, egg shells, tea bags and coffee grounds. Find out how to use your food waste caddies.
Did you know that Wales is one of the world’s leading recycling nations? In Cardiff, no waste goes to landfill. Everything is reused, recycled or used as fuel to generate energy. If you have ever wondered what happens to your recycling and waste after it is collected from your student house, you can find out by watching this short video.
The Cardiff Gov App lets you connect with council services in a quick and convenient way.
Check your bin collections, book a visit to a recycling centre, view your council tax bills, report fly-tipping and much more.
When you use the app, your reports are automatically sent to the right team, so we can resolve issues in the shortest amount of time.
You can:
- Set a collection reminder so that you know what recycling and waste to put out each week
- Find out what you can recycle in Cardiff
- Find your nearest stocklist to pick up recycling containers and food waste liner
- Report fly-tipping and litter
Just search for “Cardiff Gov App”
Bulky items
Household items, electrical items and furniture that are is a good resalable condition can be collected by the YMCA free of charge. To find out more, please call 029 2049 5114.
If you item is not in a good condition to donate, the council offer a collection service. You can book a bulky collection on the Cardiff Gov App or by visiting Cardiff Council’s Bulky Collection Page.
It’s important that you dispose of bulky items and other waste and recyclable material legitimately, otherwise you could risk receiving a fine (not to mention the harm it can cause the environment!)
Recycling Centres
Some items can be recycled but are not suitable for the kerbside recycling collections. Many items including electrical, scrap metal or textiles can be recycled by visiting a Recycling Centre. Find out more about your closest recycling centre and the items accepted.
Before reporting a missed collection of recycling or waste, you need to check a couple of things.
- Was it the correct day for your recycling and waste collection?
- Was it the correct week for your general waste collection?
- Was your recycling and waste out before 6am on collection day?
- Does your recycling/food waste contain incorrect items?
You may see a pink sticker on your bins/bags. This is notifying you that you have incorrect items in your bags. You can find out more here.
If you have run through these questions, and you have followed all instructions correctly, you need to report a missed collection as soon as possible.
This way, if you receive a fixed penalty notice when it’s not your fault, there will be a record of the missed collection on the system which can be used to appeal the fixed penalty
If you get a fine from the council for a recycling and waste offence you can pay online on the council website.
Pay a recycling and waste fine
Offences you can be fined for include:
- Littering (including from a vehicle)
- Dog Fouling
- Street litter control notices and litter clearing notices
- Graffiti and fly-posting
- Presenting waste incorrectly or using bins / bag for the wrong types of waste / recycling.