In the visitor centre they watched a Powerpoint presentation on the importance of recycling and shown a video of the line where items are sorted etc. Glass recycling, cans recycling and a video by Tonyrefail Comprehensive School “Oceans of Waste”.

They donned fluorescent waistcoats and were then taken on a landfill SAFARI where they were shown what a landfill site looks like and how it is run. Whilst on the landfill safari they were shown how our refuse is disposed of and how landfill gas is extracted and turned into electricity.

All agreed that it was a super afternoon and everyone had gained a lot of information regarding all materials that can be recycled and ways in which the Recycling Centre deals with them.

www.valleysgreen.co.uk

All articles and links from the old website have been moved over.

Please update any links you may have and point to the new address.

The name Valleys Green was chosen to make it easier to remember and encourage more people to use the website and read it as a ‘green newswire’.

Expect more changes to the website over the coming months …

The Birdwatch is the world’s biggest bird survey and bird lovers of all ages are being invited to join in the celebrations at Barry Sidings Countryside Park, Trehafod, near Pontypridd, on Saturday, January 24, 2009.

Meet at the Countryside Park’s visitor centre at 10am, where you can make a bird feeder for your feathered friends. The event is free. For more information, contact Stacey Humber, Rhondda Cynon Taf Countryside Project officer, on 01443 490250

In the late 1970s, the RSPB asked its junior membership to count the birds in their garden – over the same weekend. This ‘one-off’ idea was so successful, it has grown into the world’s biggest survey of its kind – the Big Garden Birdwatch.

For the past 30 years, the RSPB has asked people in the UK to look out for the birds in their garden for an hour and record the maximum number of each species seen at one time. This year, the RSPB is asking people to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch over the weekend of January 24 and 25. For more information, go to www.rspb.org.uk

A Participants Day has been held to brief companies interested in tendering for the joint project between Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Councils.

The project, named Tomorrow’s Valley/Cwm Yfory, will find the most attractive and affordable solution to manage waste in a sustainable manner. It will involve the creation of a new unit to treat food waste and the remaining waste left after recycling with Bryn Pica earmarked as a potential location for this project.

This will greatly reduce the amount of waste landfilled by both authorities and once again illustrates a firm commitment to increase the quantity of recycling and to improve the environment for the benefit of all its residents and visitors.

Without such schemes, local authorities may fail to reach stringent Welsh Assembly Government targets to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Failure to meet these targets will result in massive monetary fines emanating from Europe

Six shortlisted companies were invited to the Participants Day in Cyfarthfa Castle, Merthyr Tydfil and representatives from Biffa, Biogen/Greenfinch, Bioganix, Shanks, TEG and Waste Recycling Group and were given clarification of the procurement process currently ongoing.

The event was introduced by Keith Griffiths, the Chief Executive of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council who explained: “The fundamental aim is to move both our councils further down the road to identifying the partners and best solution for the treatment of our residual and food waste.

“I think I should highlight that this is the biggest contract our two councils have entered into, and we are expecting a high quality, imaginative response.”

The Welsh Assembly are considering the Appeal… If you wish your views to be heard please write in triplicate to:

The Planning Inspectorate,
REF A/07/2058755
Crown Building,
Cathays Park,
CARDIFF CF10 3NQ

BEFORE 1st MAY 2008

Pupils from Coed-y-Lan primary school joined a walk to mark the opening of the Craig yr Hesg Local Nature Reserve, Graigwen.

Pupils from Coed-y-Lan primary school joined a walk to mark the opening of the Craig yr Hesg Local Nature Reserve, Graigwen, led by staff from Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Countryside section. Pontypridd AM Jane Davidson and Pontypridd Town councillor, Steve Carter, also joined the event.

After the walk, a presentation was held at Pontypridd YMCA where the children’s poetry and paintings about their local environment – inspired by a day at the reserve – went on show.

Robert James, Headteacher at Coed-y-lan Primary, said: “The children are learning to appreciate what they have seen and will look after this wonderful landscape.”

Cllr Carter said: “It’s important for people’s health and well-being to get outside, and the nature reserve is there for all the community to enjoy.”

The nature reserve, which is largely woodland, has improved paths, signage and information boards and an ‘outdoor classroom’ area. Countryside staff have worked with local residents on the project.

Craig yr Hesg Local Nature Reserve can be reached via a public footpath near Coedylan Primary School, Pantygraigwen, or via a footpath off Berw Road, Pontypridd.