Bulky household waste including unwanted sofas and wardrobes are being saved from the landfill site thanks to a new recycling scheme underway in Swansea.
Swansea Council has developed the Swansea Waste Action Team (SWAT) who will help sort through approximately 600 tonnes of bulky waste collected from people’s homes during the year.
The newly formed team is made up of service users from the Council’s Social Services Work Development Service.
Items collected from the homes of residents in Swansea will be inspected and anything that can be refurbished will be put to one side and collected by city-based recycling organisations.
Other items that are beyond saving and are made from materials such as plastic, metal or wood will be broken down and recycled.
Trish Flint, the Council’s Team Leader for Recycling, said: “We’re continuing with our efforts to divert as much waste away from landfill as we can.
“This new scheme gives us the resources to help refurbish and recycle some of the furniture that is picked up from people’s homes.”
Debora Webb is Manager of the Work Development Service part of the COASTAL project.
This scheme helps and supports the often complex needs of individuals who are experiencing difficulties or barriers to accessing training, education and employment as a result of disability or illness.
Debora said: “This is a great opportunity for meaningful employment and training for some of our service users and follows on from the highly successful NEAT team partnership with the Environment Department.
“Members of the new team are getting the opportunity to use tools and machinery they’ve never used before and this is giving them confidence and independence. This is helping them to develop very quickly and become less reliant on the day service.
“It’s also a great way of boosting recycling and helping the environment.”
The Bulky Waste collection service is operated by Swansea Council.
Visit http://www.swansea.gov.uk/ or call 01792 635600 for more information.
