A waste reduction initiative is producing results and assisting families in decreasing what they throw away.

Organic material recycling in Torfaen climbed by 12 per cent in February 2026 compared with the equivalent month the previous year, while additional kerbside recyclable collections rose by 13 per cent across the same timeframe.

Beginning in September 2025 in Torfaen, environmental education and compliance staff have been calling on homes as part of the Keeping Up with the Joneses scheme.

The programme has engaged local people through instructional materials and face-to-face conversations at their doorsteps.

Waste education and enforcement officers have been distributing guidance booklets and offering households tips on minimising what goes into their purple-lidded containers.

A council representative noted the encouraging response from local people, stating that most residents contacted either utilise the kerbside collection service fully or have taken meaningful steps to recycle more.

Nevertheless, some individuals have not responded as enforcement measures have been applied to a limited number of households persisting with placing large quantities of purple-lidded bin waste out for collection.

From October 2025 onwards, officers have distributed over 500 initial warning communications, 29 secondary warning notices under Section 26, and two fixed penalty fines of £100 each.

Residents are advised to consult Torfaen Council’s website for full details of the Waste Education and Enforcement Policy.

Supplementary recycling containers or sacks can be obtained from the council’s recycling collection points.

The Community Recycling Facility continues operating every day of the week.

Those visiting the site are asked to bring suitable identification and to ensure their recyclables and general refuse have been sorted prior to arrival.