Market sending less waste than ever to landfill

ABOUT the equivalent in weight to the Endeavour space shuttle – that’s how much less waste Swansea Market is now sending to landfill per year.

Figures show the market sent 235 tonnes of waste to landfill in the 12 months that led up to July 2015 – a 22% drop on the 303 tonnes sent to landfill in the year that led up to the same month in 2014.

The improvement has come about thanks to a Swansea Council drive to recycle more and divert as much waste as possible from landfill.

All councils in Wales need to achieve a recycling rate of 58% by 2016. In Swansea, figures show the 2013/2014 figure of 53.3% has increased to 56.54% since the introduction of a three black bag limit.

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “Swansea Market is an extremely busy operation, with over 100 traders and many thousands of shoppers passing through every week. It’s inevitable that an attraction of its size and vibrancy will generate a lot of waste, but we’ve been working hard alongside stallholders there over the last year or so to cut down on the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

“The market traders and all our staff involved in this process deserve huge credit because the figures clearly show the hard work is bearing fruit. Work to refurbish Swansea Market’s roof and help preserve the attraction for years to come is just about nearing completion, but the aim now is to further cut down on the amount of waste the market sends to landfill as well to make the attraction as sustainable and environmentally-friendly as possible.

“The market has been at the heart of Swansea city centre trade for many generations, but this work shows we’re determined to keep pace with the needs of the 21st century and contribute to Swansea’s recycling target as a whole.”

The market roof refurbishment project is scheduled for completion early this month. The project is being funded by Swansea Council and the Building Enhancement Programme, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

Extra funding means drainage improvements can now be carried out and repairs to the market’s flat roof will be more extensive than originally planned. These additional works, which will take place out of sight of traders and shoppers, will be carried out until mid-December.

Have a look at www.swanseaindoormarket.co.uk for more information.