Upcycled rubbish is transformed into the Cardiff Bay Eco Lounge

Cardiff Harbour Authority (CHA) has come up with an innovative idea to reuse and recycle items dredged up from Cardiff Bay, highlighting the environmental issue of incorrect waste disposal in our oceans.

An average of 430 tonnes of rubbish and natural debris is collected from the waters of Cardiff Bay each year by the Harbourmaster and environmental teams, including items such as tyres, plastic bottles, wooden pallets and beer barrels.

Local carpenter Gareth Davies from Big G Designs, was commissioned to upcycle some of the retrieved items and has created the Bay Eco Lounge. Pontoon decking, buoys, tyres, rope, beer barrels and old events banners have all been used to produce high-quality, unique pieces of furniture such as tables, chairs and bar stools. An old boat has even been transformed into a bar.

Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury said: "In today's culture it is all too easy to throw things away and buy new, but this project has shown what can be made from old rubbish.

"The items that have been made are of magnificent quality and highlight how much waste and debris is dumped in our Cardiff Bay waters. Hopefully, this will discourage people from using the Bay for incorrect waste disposal in the future."

The Bay Eco Lounge will be on display at Cardiff Harbour Festival hosts Extreme Sailing Series this August bank holiday weekend (26^th- 28^th).

For your chance towina piece ofthis uniquefurniture, head to the Cardiff Council Instagram page @cardiff_council and take a photo of yourself in the Bay Eco Lounge. Whether it's individual, group or Boomerang, get creative and bag yourself an awesome piece of one-off furniture for your home or office. Share your post using#BayUpcycleand tag@cardiff_council