A SENIOR councillor is reminding residents to be mindful of what they can and cannot recycle over the festive period.

Councillor Carolyn Thomas, cabinet member for Streetscene and countryside, has issued a reminder of what can be recycled over Christmas and ways to ensure your recycling is spot on this Christmas.

She said: “We can recycle all plastic except film and black plastic. Ignore all the marks and stamps - it goes through our recycling centre for further checking.

“We can also recycle foil including pie trays and aluminium foil - as long as it is clean otherwise it will contaminate the batch – as well as tins and aerosol sprays.”

Facilities are able to take large boxes but ask that they are collapsed and folded down so they can fit in the wagons and ask people not to pack them up with additional waste as it makes it difficult for the crews to take them.

Cllr Thomas added that plastic, aluminium, tins and Tetra packs can go together in one bag as it is then sorted at the recycling station in Buckley.

She added: “The contract with our merchants states that no plastic waste is to leave Europe, most waste is recycled locally. The residual waste goes to Parc Adfer, our new energy from waste facility that can generate enough electricity to power 30,000 homes.

“Regarding food waste, bones and teabags can go in. The biomass facility at St Asaph turns it into electricity and liquid fertilizer and they will deal with teabags that have plastic in them.”

The Treudynn councillor also shared some tips to ensure that Streetscene workers on hand over the festive season have a slightly easier job.

She said: “If you have small pieces of paper, pack it into cereal or other small food boxes so it does not blow away. Also, put tin lids inside the tins, and milk bottle tops push inside milk bottles and squeeze the air out.

Additional waste often crops up over the Christmas period and Cllr Thomas has asked that people be aware of, including wrapping paper – which can have traces of plastic or foil in without being apparent.

Cllr Thomas says that if in doubt people should administer the scrunch test – which is done by simply scrunching a sample of paper together into a tight ball and seeing if the it stays in shape or bounces back open.

If the paper stays scrunched in a ball, then you know it can be recycled. If the paper fails, then it cannot be recycled and should be put out in black bin bags.

Christmas Cards can be also recycled but this must be without glitter and foil. Cllr Thomas says you can cut round these elements of a card and keep them out of what can be put in your recycling.

Cllr Thomas also reminded residents that there will be no collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. She adds that the Household Recycling Centres will be open every day, except for on Christmas Day.

To end, Cllr Thomas said: “Please could I take the opportunity of thanking all the Streetscene operatives and officers who work through the Christmas holiday period as it is one of the busiest times of the year for the service.”