Reuse and repair projects in Cardiff and SE Wales to help Wales’ bid for world’s number one recycler
Prosiectau ail-ddefnyddio ac atgyweirio yng Nghaerdydd a de-ddwyrain Cymru yn helpu Cymru i ddod yn ailgylchwr orau’r byd
Re-use and repair projects in Cardiff and SE Wales are aiding a Welsh Government bid to make Wales a world leader in the Circular Economy.
The Circular Economy means resources and items are kept in use for as long as possible and waste is avoided through the use of recycled materials to make new products, or fixing broken goods instead of buying new.
Over the last year, Welsh Government has already rapidly increased funding for circular economy projects from £6.5m to £43 million. This has supported 180 initiatives in every part of Wales, bringing together communities to fix their broken goods, redistributed supermarket food that would have otherwise ended up in the bin, or recycled plastic pots into furniture for homes.
Wales is already ranked the third best country for recycling in the world – the new strategy aims to make Wales world number one.
A new Welsh Government strategy ‘Beyond Recycling’ published today, sets out how we can build on Wales’ success as a recycling nation in our response to the ongoing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the climate emergency.
This includes a commitment to change public sector procurement, worth £6.7bn per year in Wales, with low-carbon, resource-efficient businesses to be given priority in tenders that use money from the public purse.
Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said:
“By helping us to manage our resources, the steps set out in ‘Beyond Recycling’ will help us to drive our green recovery to the coronavirus pandemic, Brexit and the impact of the climate emergency – as well as playing a vital and necessary part in our route to becoming a net-zero carbon nation by 2050.
“But as well as helping us to face those challenges, the strategy also sets out how this is a fantastic opportunity for Wales.
“Our Circular Economy can be world-leading, and help businesses not just to improve resource use at home, but also to compete internationally.
“There is already fantastic work taking place all over Wales in which it is playing a key role in our green recovery from the pandemic. We have a burgeoning green business sector helping to boost our economic resilience, and social enterprises and charities supporting communities to keep items in use as long as possible, and support households facing tight budgets.
“The global economy is looking at the potential of the Circular Economy, but here in Wales we are in a prime position to lead. I’m delighted that projects in Cardiff and south-east Wales are helping us in our mission.”
Ends
Notes to editors
Benthyg Cymru/Library of Things
Benthyg Cymru/Library of Things is a re-use project which was co-founded by a group of friends from Cardiff in 2016.
The trio – Becky, Jane and Ella – set out with the goal of creating spaces where borrowing useful items was as easy as popping out for a loaf of bread.
Their aim is to set up spaces where people can lend things they have, but don’t need; borrow things they need, but don’t have; and exchange useful skills across groups and generations.
They are now looking to create a network of libraries of things across Wales, providing items such as gardening and DIY tools; camping equipment and much more.
Items will be available at an affordable rate, with those borrowing items also allowed to pay with their time instead of cash.
Circular Economy funding will allow for the creation of new Libraries of Things in Monmouthshire and Swansea, backed by expertise provided by the team at Benthyg Cymru - with others to follow.
Becky Harford, co-founder of Benthyg, said: “The idea first came about when I had just moved into a new house with a big garden but couldn’t afford to buy a lawnmower.
“I didn’t know anyone locally to borrow one and didn’t drive to be able to borrow one from friends further away. I came across the idea of tool libraries and when I realised there wasn't one in Cardiff, decided to set one up myself.
“The benefits of libraries of things are endless - providing opportunities to share precious resources and create connections with people in your community"
Ella Smillie, co-founder, added: "The availability of the Circular Economy fund will help to make Wales a trailblazer in sustainability, and we're delighted to be working with Local Authorities and community groups who are benefitting from this fund to make borrowing better than buying in Wales."s
Ella Smillie, a co-founder and director at Benthyg/Library of Things, is available to speak to the media on 07734 444 882.
Other projects supported by the Circular Economy Fund in the area include:
Monmouthshire
- Repair and Reuse Hub, Caldicot (Monmouthshire County Council)
- The Larder - Bridges Centre, Monmouth Town Centre (Monmouthshire County Council)
- Abergavenny Food Resilient (Monmouthshire County Council)
- Improvements to Abergavenny Community Centre (Monmouthshire County Council)
- From Little Acorns (Monmouthshire County Council)
Caerphilly
- Providing infrastructure and support to develop a service to repair, rejuvenate and redistribute resources across the area (Caerphilly County Council)
Newport
- Increases recycling and re-use provision (Newport City Council)
- Equipping Newport Makerspace to support the circular economy (Newport City Council; Medrau Maindee Makers)
- Developing a re-use centre in Maindee (Newport City Council; Wastesavers Charitable Trust Ltd)
Torfaen
- Creating a re-use and repair café (Torfaen Council)
The strategy is focussed around six core themes of activity.
- Driving innovation in materials use
- Upscaling prevention and re-use
- Building on our recycling record
- Investing in infrastructure
- Enabling community and business action
- Aligning Government levers
We have also set out eight ambitious headline actions.
- We will support businesses in Wales to reduce their carbon footprint by becoming more resource efficient.
- We will provide the tools to enable community action.
- We will phase out unnecessary single-use items, especially plastic.
- We will eradicate avoidable food waste.
- We will procure on a basis which prioritises goods and products which are made from remanufactured, refurbished and recycled materials or come from low carbon and sustainable materials like wood.
- We will strive to achieve the highest rates of recycling in the world.
- We will reduce the environmental impact of the waste collection from our homes and businesses.
- We will take full responsibility for our waste.