12/04/24

Here is your Friday update, covering:

·       Quality of recycling in Cardiff increasing significantly due to the new recycling scheme

·       Cardiff residents need photo ID to vote at elections in May

·       Cardiff-based musicians commissioned to create new ‘Sound of the City’.

The latest roll out of the new ‘sack sort’ recycling scheme to 37,000 properties across Cardiff has resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of recycling collected from residents’ homes, Cardiff Council can reveal.

After running the scheme for six weeks the council’s latest household recycling figures show that around 92% of waste collected from residents’ homes via the new system can be recycled. Under the co-mingled green bag collection scheme only 70% of material collected is able to be recycled, via our internal processes.

The rollout is producing similar figures to the pilot project which took place last year showing the scheme’s clear value when it comes to improving the quality of the recycling collected.

A spokesperson for Cardiff Council said: “The figures we are seeing are making a big difference and we want to take this opportunity to thank residents for getting on board with the scheme and adapting to it so quickly. The figures right now show a significant and continuous improvement compared with the co-mingled (green bag) collection system.

“Residents are doing a brilliant job. Separating recyclables into different streams is leading to less contamination. Thirty per cent of what we pick up in the co-mingled, green, plastic bags is unrecyclable. In many instances those bags would contain food waste or dirty nappies among other things, causing a nuisance to our staff, costing the council further money to incinerate the non-recyclable waste, and creating issues with animals and birds breaking open bags on the street. The new system makes it harder for animals and birds to break open the sacks, but the fact they contain less food waste than we were finding in green bags is also helping fix this problem. The scheme is working and will help us get closer to achieving Welsh Government’s recycling targetsand will reduce the environmental impacts relating to the carbon emissions of producing new raw materials.”

More here: https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/33370.html

Residents in Cardiff will need to show photographic ID to vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner election on May 2.

Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote by checking they have an accepted form of ID, which includes a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport or drivers' licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person's bus pass. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.  The full list of accepted ID is here: https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Voting-and-elections/Elections-Act-2022/Pages/default.aspx

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID online at www.voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing a paper form. The deadline to apply is April 24.

Paul Orders, Returning Officer at Cardiff Council, said: "With elections taking place in Cardiff on May 2, it is important that those who want to vote in a polling station make sure they have an accepted form of ID, and if they don't, they should apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. Anyone needing help with applying for the free ID or who wants to request an application form, can email electoralservices@cardiff.gov.uk

 "Details on a voter's photo ID must be the same as the information we hold for them on the electoral register, so if anyone has changed their name, or moved house recently, we encourage them to update their details on the register before the deadline on April 16 to ensure they can cast their vote in a polling station on May 2."

More here: https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/33356.html

Four talented Cardiff-based musicians have received ‘Sound of the City' commissions to support the creation of experimental new work, some of which will be presented later this year as part of the recently announced Cardiff Music City festival.

The ‘musicians-in-residence' awarded commissions are N'famady Kouyaté, Natalie Roe, Eugene Capper and Gemma Smith.

The commissions, which are supported by Welsh Government, Cardiff Council and Cardiff Music Board, form part of Cardiff Council's music strategy and aim to nurture and sustain development in the city's music sector.