HOUSEHOLDERS are being supplied with separate boxes for glass recycling in Monmouthshire following a “succesful” trial involving more than 6,500 homes in the county.

Now all residents will receive a glass recycling box for bottles and jars, which will be collected fortnightly.

As part of the roll-out, glass will no longer be accepted in recycling bags from March 4.

A council spokesman said separating the glass into boxes would improve the quality and value of recycling.

For most households, the glass boxes will be collected at the same time as household waste thanks to new vehicles which have a separate compartment for glass.

Residents in rural areas will have their glass collected on smaller vehicles that can navigate country lanes.

For some residents living in flats and sheltered housing, a communal wheeled bin may be provided for convenience, while elderly and disabled residents can be supplied with boxes with handles for ease of carrying.

Monmouthshire’s glass will be sent to a reprocessing plant in Cwmbran then transported to be recycled into fibre glass, new glass bottles and concrete products.

The spokesman said: “Red and purple bag recycling will continue to be collected weekly. Food waste will also continue to be collected weekly.

“For most households, food waste and recycling will be collected at the same time, but on new vehicles with separate compartments.

“The new vehicles with separate compartments for materials will deliver better quality recycling and greater overall efficiencies.” Collection days will change from March 4, with the first of two information leaflets due to be delivered with the new glass recycling box in the coming weeks containing an overview of the ways residents can recycle.

A second leaflet will contain details of the new collection days.

Cllr Bryan Jones, Cabinet Member for Operations, said: “The new glass boxes will enable glass to be recycled over and over again and saves the planet’s finite resources. 

“Residents have always risen to the challenge of increasing recycling when we introduce new services, and we are confident they will do so again.

“I hope that residents continue to recycle and embrace the changes ahead.”

The boxes and leaflet will be delivered into early February.

Residents can contact the council if a box has not been received by February 15 via the My Monmouthshire App, by calling 01633 644644 or by visiting a community hub.