One of the biggest recycling facilities in Wales will officially open in Cardiff on Tuesday as the city aims to become one of the world's leading recycling cities.

The new £1.2m recycling centre at Lamby Way is now the biggest in the capital city, with space to allow eight times as many cars to use the site at any one time than were able to before.

Twenty-nine different products can now be recycled at the new Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), giving Cardiff Council more opportunity to increase the city's recycling rate and it's hoped approximately 6,000 tonnes of waste will be recycled there in the next year rising to 8,000 tonnes in the near future.

From left, Council Leader Cllr Huw Thomas, The Rt. Honourable Lord Mayor Bob Derbyshire and Cabinet Member for Clean streets & the Environment Cllr Michael Michael at the opening today

Cllr Michael Michael, Cabinet Member for Clean Streets, Recycling and Environment, said: "This facility has been designed so that the public can separate as many products as possible for recycling and that's important because more and more of us are trying to do what we can to help the planet.

"Cardiff is already the best major city in Britain for recycling and we want to be the best in the world. I've no doubt this fantastic new site will go some way to helping us do just that."

Welsh Government has set a 70 per cent recycling target for all Welsh local authorities by 2025 - a target which will make Wales one of the best countries in the world for recycling.

The new Lamby Way site has ten bays and more than 20 different waste containers which can collect a host of different products for recycling including hard plastic, carpets and UpVC windows.

Cllr Michael, added: "The design of the new site is very similar to our other super site at Bessemer Close. We are moving away from the old semi-circular design which can cause issues with people unloading materials and can also create operational problems removing skips when they are full.

"We are sure the new site will be a huge success helping us to hit our recycling targets but we're also looking in the north of Cardiff to see if we can create another super site which will help serve all the new developments which are springing up in that part of the city.

"These facilities need to be in areas where residents do not live, with good transport links so the public can easily get to the sites.

"We are committed to increasing the city's recycling rate and making Cardiff an even greener city than it is now."

The facility will be officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Bob Derbyshire, on Tuesday, July 18^that 10am.

Notes to Editors

        The products that can be taken to this site are: books & CDs; mixed household hazardous items; batteries; engine oil; edible oil; fluorescent tubes; gas cylinders; bicycles; car batteries; textiles; hazardous paint & non-hazardous paint; small electrical items; TVs; fridges and freezers; soil and stone; plasterboard; hard plastics; metal; household garden waste; wood; mixed recycling; carpets; mattresses; paper cardboard; household general waste; UpVC (window frames) and tyres.

        Additional information on all HWRCs is available here:https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Rubbish-and-recycling/Take-it-to-the-tip/Find-my-nearest-tip/Pages/Find-my-nearest-tip.aspx

        Lamby Way HWRC is the only facility which the public can bring pre-booked vans into the site. Anyone wishing to do this is asked to phone Connect 2 Cardiff  - 02920 872087 or 02920 872088 for Welsh -  in advance and give details on when you plan to visit, the vehicle type and registration.

        Lamby Way opening times for the new site remain the same as the old site. It is open 7 days a week. During the summer months, the site is open from 7.30am until 6.30pm and in the winter it is open from 9.30am until 6pm.

        You must bring along identification which shows you are a resident of Cardiff.