FIRST birthday celebration in Llantrisant as “The Shed” celebrates a successful year in business.
The re-use shop has been a huge success over the last 12 months, with over 42,869 items finding new homes and over 70 tonnes of waste being successfully diverted from landfill.
What is The Shed?
The Shed gives residents the opportunity to purchase items deposited at the Community Recycling Centre (CRC) from members of the public. From books to toys, bikes, crockery, ornaments, furniture and much more, the shop gives a new lease of life to items which had been thrown out. The shelves and floor space are always brimming with an array of items with lots of treasures ready to be discovered.
After being identified for re-use by CRC attendants and volunteers, the items are thoroughly checked to ensure they are in safe and good working order.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services got the birthday celebrations started along with Rhondda Cynon Taf’s own esteemed gardener Terry Walton – a regular contributor to BBC Radio 2.
Also lending support to the celebrations was recycling mascot Rhys Cycle, as well as Great Uncle Bulgaria from the Wombles – who was delighted at The Shed’s success in ‘making good use of the things that are found.’
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services, said:
“The shed is absolutely fantastic and has been a huge success with RCT residents and beyond. Congratulations to everyone who has made this a possibility, including our partner Wastesavers, and I’m very confident that “The Shed” will continue to build on its hugely successful first year both now and in the future.
“Our efforts are making a difference – our recycling rate is at 64% at the moment, when the target from Welsh Government is 58%. I’m confident that, through continued hard work and innovative thinking about ways we can recycle more, like The Shed, that we can hit the 70% target by 2024/25.”
More and more people are recycling in RCT and 64% of overall waste was recycled in 2016/17 – however, more needs to be done to hit the Welsh Government’s 70% target by 2024/25, to avoid significant fines. New rules to limit residents’ black bag allowance were introduced on June 4, 2018, and are being promoted through The Choice Is Clear – Everyone needs to recycle campaign.
Everyone needs to recycle, and it is estimated that three in four people in Rhondda Cynon Taf do so regularly. The new rules will ensure even more residents support a green future, so we can hit the 70% target by 2024/25.
Over 77,000 tonnes of waste was recycled during 2016/17 – this includes items brought to Community Recycling Centres in RCT.
Paula Perry Manager of “The Shed” said:
“it’s amazing the items that are donated to us every day. Each day is different and you never know what is going to come in! Our customers are really the heart and soul of the project and we have so many regulars who pop in every day just to see us. We want to thank them for all the support they have shown us over the last 12 months and hope they continue to drop in and say hello”.
Nicola Rossiter, Reuse Operations Manager at Wastesavers Charitable Trust, who run the shop in partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, added:
“We are really pleased with the success of the shop over the past 12 months. Not only have we diverted really good household items from landfill but we have also worked with a number of volunteers; helping them to gain skills and experience and supporting them to move into employment. We hope to support even more people this year”.
The Council boasts a number of CRC’s right across the County Borough and all of these facilities will cater for all recycling needs – a full list of CRCs and the items they accept can be found at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/communityrecyclingcentres
All centres are manned and attendants are happy to advise residents on recycling and assist or signpost them in disposing of their household material.
All centres are open Monday – Sunday 8:00 to 19:30 from April – October and Monday – Sunday 8:00 to 17:30 from November – March.
For further information on the community recycling centres and “The Shed” visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/recycling or follow “The Shed” on Facebook/Twitter.
