Recycling nets £4m for council

WHERE there's muck there’s brass, as the saying goes, and that’s the case for councils like Swansea when they dispose of all the cans, cardboard and glass they pick up from outside people’s homes.

- RICHARD YOULE

You might not think you're boosting your local authority's coffers when you separate your recycling ready for collection but pat yourself on the back because you are - not that a council tax rebate is on the cards.

Swansea Council generated £4.46m from selling recyclable materials in 2024-25, a slightly higher figure than expected.

The £4.46m, however, did include weighbridge charges and items sold at its Tip Treasures shop at Llansamlet waste recycling centre.

The council is forecasting revenue of £4.13m this financial year - the slight drop attributable to volatility in recycling markets, according to a report.

Key to maximising income is good quality materials and effective contracts between the council and processors which take the materials.