Great news for Aberdare residents as a new re-use shop is officially opened at 31/32 Cannon Street.
The third, ‘The Shed’ which is based on the high street in Aberdare town centre, has been officially opened by RCT Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure, Cllr Ann Crimmings.
The new shop, which is open Monday – Saturday 9.30am-4.30pm, aims to provide additional recycling and re-use facilities to residents in the Cynon Valley area – and now means that there is a ‘Shed’ in every area of Rhondda, Cynon and Taf for residents to enjoy.
With future plans to host regular pop-up repair events and various community events and exhibitions, this new facility aims to become a hub within the Cynon Valley Community. To celebrate the official opening a repair café will be set up on the day by a local re-use charity. This charity is looking to expand across Rhondda Cynon Taf in the near future and help to bring more items back to life.
Following the huge success of the previous two ‘The Shed’ based around the corner from Llantrisant Community Recycling Centre (Unit 2 ffordd Prichard, Llantrisant Business Park) and Treherbert Community Recycling Centre, plans were announced last winter to re-create the success on an even bigger scale in Aberdare.
The Welsh Government allocated over £570,000 from its Circular Economy Fund to create the new high street store that is set to replicate the success of the previous ‘The Shed’s’ and will allow residents to take their unwanted items to ‘The Shed’ so that they can be sold-on and re-used. The allocated funding allowed the semi abandoned high street store to be fully re-furbished and re-purposed and also paid for a new electric van, which is being used between all ‘The Sheds’ to pick up any donations left at other centres across the County Borough.
‘The Shed’s’ in Llantrisant and Treherbert continue to go from strength to strength and together they have successfully given over 870 Tonnes of waste a new lease of life and diverted them from landfill. That’s an estimated 175,000 household items that have been reused.
‘The Shed’ concept, gives residents the opportunity to purchase items deposited at the Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) 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 would otherwise have 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 the items are checked by Wastesavers charity staff and volunteers to ensure they are in safe and good working order.
The fantastic news that this successful model has now been replicated in Aberdare will mean that even more items can be saved from landfill and find new homes.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure said: “’The Shed’ is absolutely fantastic and has been a huge success with RCT residents. I am excited to see the success of the ‘The Shed’s’ replicated in my own community of Aberdare. This will result in even more items finding new homes and ultimately being diverted from landfill. I will definitely be a regular visitor!
“I would also like to congratulate everyone at ‘The Shed’s’ on their success so far and I’m very confident that the concept of ’The Shed’ will continue to build on its huge success both now and in the future, especially with the official opening of the new high street facility in Aberdare.”
Welsh Government Minister for Climate Change Julie James said:
“As the world’s third best recycling nation, Wales has a global reputation when it comes to reducing waste. Our aim is to create a circular economy, which keeps resources in use and avoids creating rubbish.
“By re-using, repairing and recycling what we use, we can help tackle the climate emergency and give products and materials a new lease of life, which makes a real difference to communities across Wales – especially during the current cost-of-living crisis.
“I’m delighted to see Rhondda Cynon Taf making strides in helping build a stronger, fairer, greener Wales with the opening of The Shed as a new high street repair and reuse hub, which will complement the successful Sheds in Llantrisant and Treherbert.”
Alun Harries, Charity Manager with Wastesavers, who operationally manage ‘The Sheds’ said; “We’re really excited to be officially opening up another Shed in Aberdare. The facilities the Council have provided are ideal and we’re sure the new high street shop is going to be a huge hit with residents in this part of RCT.”
The Council boasts a number of CRC’s right across the County Borough and all of these facilities will cater for all re-use and 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.
