Recycling rules for Torfaen
Based on Torfaen published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Here's what currently goes in each bin in Torfaen.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Torfaen
Polystyrene: Usually general waste (UK-wide position)UK-wide, not council-specific
Across the UK, polystyrene is rarely collected at the kerbside and usually belongs in general waste. Torfaen's published guidance we hold doesn't list it.
Food waste: Not accepted in Torfaen's garden waste bin
Green and brown caddy.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Red bag.
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Red bag.
Drink cartons: Goes in your recycling bin
Red bag.
Your bins in Torfaen, by colour
Container colours as published by Torfaen. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Brown caddy
Food waste
Purple bin
Household waste
Purple lid
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
What goes in the red bag?:
- Drinks cans · Red bag
- Food tins · Red bag
- Chocolate and biscuit tins · Red bag
- Empty aerosols · Red bag
- Clean foil and clean foil trays · Red bag
- Food and drink cartons, such as Tetra Pak · Red bag
- Skincare and toiletry bottles · Red bag
- Toothpaste tubes · Red bag
- Cleaning product bottles · Red bag
- Drinks bottles · Red bag
- Pots · Red bag
- Tubs · Red bag
- Punnets · Red bag
- Takeaway trays and lids · Red bag
- Plain Christmas cards · Blue bag
- Only plain brown or grey wrapping paper · Blue bag
Not accepted
Red bag, no thanks:
- Crisp packets
- Plastic bags or wrapping
- Netting used to package fruit and vegetables
- Food and drink pouches
- Pet food pouches
- Dry pet food bags
- Blister packs
- Toothbrushes
- Plastic razors
- E-cigarettes or vapes
- Gas canisters
- Lighters
- Needles
- Garden compost or topsoil bags
- Bulky plastics, such as children’s toys, washing-up bowls, plant pots or Tupperware containers
- Shiny or glittery wrapping paper · Made of too many different materialsInstead: Purple lidded bin or reuse it
Tips (3)
Blue bag, tips:
- • Flatten your cardboard to create more space in the bag
- • Close lid to keep cardboard dry
- • Place extra cardboard next to your blue bag
Garden Waste
Accepted
Green bin, yes please:
- Grass cuttings
- Leaves
- Hedge clippings and small twigs
- Dead plants and flowers
- Hay, straw or wood shavings from rabbits, guinea pigs, small herbivore pets
Not accepted
Green bin, no thank you:
- General waste / black bags
- Soil, stones, rubble or logs
- Invasive weeds, such as Japanese knotweed
- Animal faeces
- Any garden furniture
- Large pieces of wood
- Food waste (please use your green and brown caddy)Instead: Green and brown caddy
We don't have checked food waste guidance for Torfaen yet.
See Torfaen's own guidanceWhen are bins collected in Torfaen?
This page covers what goes in each bin. Collection days are set by the council and vary by street. See how to find your bin collection day, or browse streets by postcode to see schedules your neighbours have added.
Check with the council over bank holidays. See the council’s page →
In Torfaen’s own words: “We collect recycling weekly and purple-lidded bins fortnightly.”
No streets in Torfaen on BinBosh yet — be the first to add yours, and your neighbours can adopt it instead of setting up their own.
Frequently asked questions
What bin does food waste go in Torfaen?
In Torfaen, food waste (please use your green and brown caddy) can't go in your garden waste bin. Green and brown caddy.
What bin do tins and cans go in Torfaen?
In Torfaen, food tins go in your recycling bin. Red bag.
What bin do aerosols go in Torfaen?
In Torfaen, empty aerosols go in your recycling bin. Red bag.
What bin do drink cartons go in Torfaen?
In Torfaen, food and drink cartons, such as tetra pak goes in your recycling bin. Red bag.
What goes in the recycling bin in Torfaen?
Torfaen's recycling bin accepts drinks cans, food tins, chocolate and biscuit tins, empty aerosols, clean foil and clean foil trays, food and drink cartons, such as tetra pak, and more. Red bag.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Torfaen?
Torfaen's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, leaves, hedge clippings and small twigs, dead plants and flowers, hay, straw or wood shavings from rabbits, guinea pigs, small herbivore pets, and more.
What can't be recycled in Torfaen?
Items not accepted in Torfaen: crisp packets, plastic bags or wrapping, netting used to package fruit and vegetables, food and drink pouches. Shiny or glittery wrapping paper — made of too many different materials.
What bin do crisp packets go in Torfaen?
In Torfaen, crisp packets can't go in your recycling bin.
Helpful guides
Source: Torfaen council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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