Here's your Friday update, covering: Cardiff set to go cleaner and greener with new recycling strategy; Council set to improve Cardiff flood defences; and Cardiff's brand-new primary school has been named and new Headteacher appointed.

Cardiff set to go Cleaner and Greener with new recycling strategy

Changes to the way Cardiff residents recycle their waste could be rolled out across large parts of the city as they seek to improve recycling rates and act on climate change.

The climate crisis is causing cities across the world to change the amount of energy and resources they use, so as well as improving how much we all recycle, the new strategy will also seek to reduce the overall amount of waste we all generate, and re-manufacture our recycled materials so it can be repurposed and used again.

The new recycling strategy follows the ‘blueprint' designed by Welsh Government and partners which has seen Wales become the third best recycling nation in the world. Many authorities in Wales have already begun segregated recycling, with high levels of public compliance and improved recycling rates.

Earlier this year around 4,000 homes in the city took part in the pilot which saw recyclables separated by residents and placed into specific containers for collection. Bottles and jars in one container, paper and cardboard in another, and plastic and metal/tin containers in a third.

And earlier this year more than 3,000 residents took part in a consultation on how waste collections could be changed to improve recycling rates, improve the quality of the recycling, tackle the climate emergency, reduce single-use plastics, and help make Cardiff one of the leading recycling cities in the world.

Recent independent analysis by WRAP of the composition of general waste presented for kerbside collection in Cardiff has shown that over half of the contents in the bags and bins could actually be presented for recycling.

Now, Cardiff Council's Cabinet will discuss a Recycling Strategy for the city up to 2025 at its next meeting on Wednesday, September 28 which recommends:

• The phased roll out of the pilot scheme to homes in more parts of the city.

• Devising further pilots to develop ways to ensure people who live in blocks of flats or Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) can recycle better (around 30% of the city's homes).

• Increase the amount of items that can be presented for kerbside and neighbourhood recycling venues, to help residents easily recycle things like batteries; Tetra packs (cartons); coffee pods; textiles and small electrical items; and,

• Trial methods to restrict the amount of general waste households can present for collection, including moving to a three-weekly collection for non-recyclable waste in areas where residents have wheeled bins, and a two bin-bag limit per fortnight in areas where non-recyclable household waste is collected in bags. Separate collections for hygiene (child nappies and incontinence waste) will remain in place.

Cllr Caro Wild, Cardiff Council's Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said: "To act on the climate emergency we need to urgently make changes to how the city uses resources, improving the way we recycle is something we can all do and it's one of the easiest ways to make a difference. We also believe these changes will help us keep our city clean"

Read more here:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/29905.html

Council set to improve Cardiff flood defences

A flood defence system, designed to protect properties in south-east Cardiff from rising sea levels for the next 100 years is set to be approved by Cardiff Council.

Construction of the scheme, 85% of which will be paid for by the Welsh Government, with Cardiff Council contributing the remaining 15%, is set to begin early next year, with work due to be completed by the latter end of 2025.

When built, it is expected to comprise:

• A rock barrier along the coast to manage erosion and high tides
• Sheet piling along the Lamby Way roundabout
• Maintained earth embankments, and
• Rock protection for Lamby Way Bridge

And it will:

• Manage the flood risk to 1,116 residential and 72 non-residential properties, plus the Rover Way traveller site,
• Provide defence against a one-in-200-year severe weather event, including allowing for the effects of climate change.

When the plan was first proposed in June 2021, the anticipated cost was lower than the current position. A report going before the Council's Cabinet next Wednesday, September 28th, explains the increase is due to the need for larger coastal defences, longer stretches of the Rhymney River needing protection and costs increasing globally for materials and many related aspects of the works.

The plan aims to minimise the effect on wildlife and includes the improvement of the walking route forming part of the Wales Coastal Path and links to existing public rights of way.

Read more here:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/29912.html

Cardiff's brand-new primary school has been named and new Headteacher appointed

Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School is the chosen name for a brand new primary school to serve parts of north-west Cardiff.

Located at the Plasdŵr development on land South of Llantrisant Road, ‘Groes-wen' is named after a small hamlet, and a Whitecross, which existed at the junction of Llantrisant Road and Radyr as part of the Penrhys pilgrimage.

The exciting news follows the announcement that Richard Carbis has been appointed by the schools temporary governing body, as the new headteacher for the school. An experienced Headteacher having previously led Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Cwm Derwen, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Evan James and Ysgol Pencae (his present post) in Cardiff, Richard has also been seconded to various roles during his career including the strategic lead for leadership, Welsh Strategic Officer and a Systems Leader for Central South Consortium.

Construction of the new school is well underway, which when completed willserve the early phases of the Plasdŵr development, spanning parts of Creigiau, St Fagans, Radyr, Morganstown and Fairwater.

Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School will feature contemporary architecture and a range of amenities accessible to the public, providing opportunities to bring new residents and families together with the aim of becoming a recognisable hub at the heart of its new community.

The two form of entry school will offer 420 places in total and is the first of its kind in Cardiff to provide a dual language education stream. This means that one-form of entry will offer Welsh-medium education and one-form of entry will offer English and Welsh dual-language education. In addition, there will be 96 part-time nursery provision.

Applications for school admissions to Cardiff primary schools including Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School will open in November 2022 for entry into Reception and January 2023 for Nursery. The school will admit its first pupils in September 2023. Pupils in school Years 1 and 2 will also have the opportunity to apply to the school from April 2023 ready to start from September 2023.

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "The naming of the new school and the appointment of its headteacher is positive progress in the establishment of this new and exciting school.

"An innovative variation on the traditional primary school, Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School will deliver new and exciting opportunities through the introduction of the dual language model, whilst providing a modern, well-equipped and efficient learning environment.

"I would like to congratulate Richard who with support from the schools governing body, will lead the school in creating an exciting vision for the future, ensuring that children and young people receive the best possible education."

Read more here:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/29889.html