Barry Hospital has started to collect crisp packets for a strategy aimed at tackling hard to recycle materials.

As part of the ongoing strategy to reduce waste across Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Capital, Estates and Facilities Team have introduced recycling bins for crisp packets which have been funded by Cardiff & Vale Health Charity.

These recycling bins are now available at the following:

• Y Gegin at University Hospital of Wales

• The Breast Centre Clinic at University Hospital Llandough

• Aroma at Woodland House

Many crisp packets are made from a mixture of different materials, including plastic.

This means they're difficult to recycle because the materials need separating.

Most packets look shiny on the inside like foil, but it's actually a type of metallised plastic film.

The Capital, Estates & Facilities have linked up with TerraCycle® to tackle this problem as part of their waste reduction strategy.

When you've dropped your packets in the bin provided, they are sent free of charge to TerraCycle®, who sort and separate the crisp packets by material composition.

They are then cleaned and extruded into plastic pellets which are then used to make new products.

Any brand of crisp packet and crisp multipack outer packaging is accepted but not:

• Crisp tubes

• Meat snack bags

The Capital, Estates & Facilities Service Board have agreed that any income received from this scheme will be donated to Cardiff & Vale Health Charity, in recognition of their support on a number of initiatives.

Geoff Walsh, Director of Capital, Estates & Facilities at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: "Installing these recycle bins for crisp packets is another great step forward in our fight to reduce waste across the UHB and our sustainability agenda.

"This scheme will not only help to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill, but help by recycling the packets into new products and raise money to support the CAV Charity.

"I'd like to encourage everyone to get involved, by saving up their crisp packets and dropping them in the bin – every payment we receive from TerraCycle® helps to make things better for our patients and staff."

To find out more about crisp packet recycling in your area please email [email protected]