Vale of Glamorgan Council is to introduce a new recycling system to Penarth, Sully, Llandough, Dinas Powys and surrounding areas from 17 April in a bid to ensure that more of the material collected at the kerbside can be recycled.

Already operating in other areas of the Vale, the new system will require residents to sort their recycling into individual containers.

From Monday, 6 March the Council will begin delivering grey caddies for glass recycling, white bags for paper recycling and orange bags for cardboard recycling to residents in the areas affected by the changes. 

Residents should already be using a large blue bag for their recycling, this container should be kept and used to recycle certain plastics and metal, such as tins, under the new system.

Leaflets explaining the changes and how to recycle under the new system will be delivered to all affected households with the new containers.

The Council is also introducing a new battery and small electrical item recycling service.

A small white bag for batteries will be delivered to all households throughout the Vale of Glamorgan. Small electrical items should be placed loosely on top of recycling caddies. 

Cllr Mark Wilson, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood and Building Services, said: "Collecting recycling in this way means a greater proportion of it can be recycled here in the UK, which is better for the environment and more cost effective.

"The Council has introduced this service in other areas of the Vale and recycling rates have increased as a result.

"The Council will be visiting the communities where these changes are being introduced over the next few weeks. I would encourage anyone who has any questions about this new service to come and chat to officers or find more information on the Council's website."

 Flats and apartment buildings that have communal waste and recycling collection points will continue with the current comingled recycling system.

Residents who live alone can apply for a quad bag, allowing them to separate their recycling in to four separate compartments in a single bag.