Council consults on new recycling centre

A NEW recycling centre serving South Wales is set to be discussed by Cardiff council and the Welsh Government.

The regional centre could potentially process recycling for a number of local authorities across the region to increase recycling rates and cut costs.

Cardiff council is consulting on waste management and collections, and is asking people whether it should explore partnerships with other local authorities for a recycling facility.

The consultation says, should the idea be taken forward, that the facility may not remain within Cardiff.

Councillor Michael Michael, Cardiff’s cabinet member for clean streets, recycling and environment, said the fledgling idea will be discussed with Welsh Government and council leaders. He said: “I think that, with the rest of South Wales, we should be looking at what is the best value.

“Wales and Cardiff has a fantastic record of recycling. We want to build on that.”

Black bag waste from five authorities – Caerphilly, Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Newport and Vale of Glamorgan – is incinerated at Viridor in Cardiff.

But recycling collected by councils is handled on an individual basis.

For example, 42,000 tonnes of Cardiff’s recycling a year goes to the Materials Recycling Facility in Lamby Way.

And Vale of Glamorgan Council currently sends its co-mingled recycling to Leicester.