Waste Scheme Participants Day for Rhondda Cynon Taff via Green Drinks Rhondda Cynon Taff » Green Drinks Rhondda Cynon Taff
A major new initiative to develop state-of-the-art facilities for recycling food waste and other residual waste in a beneficial and sustainable manner has now shortlisted contenders to develop the scheme.
A Participants Day has been held to brief companies interested in tendering for the joint project between Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Councils.
The project, named Tomorrow’s Valley/Cwm Yfory, will find the most attractive and affordable solution to manage waste in a sustainable manner. It will involve the creation of a new unit to treat food waste and the remaining waste left after recycling with Bryn Pica earmarked as a potential location for this project.
This will greatly reduce the amount of waste landfilled by both authorities and once again illustrates a...
The Planning Application to build one of Wales’ largest Wind Farms in Cynon Valley was rejected by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council in April 2008. The developer, Pennant Walters, are appealing against the decision via the Welsh Assembly.
The Welsh Assembly are considering the Appeal… If you wish your views to be heard please write in triplicate to:
The Planning Inspectorate,
REF A/07/2058755
Crown Building,
Cathays Park,
CARDIFF CF10 3NQ
BEFORE 1st MAY...... 
Adrian Shepherd is fighting for the survival of the Allotment Gardens at Trallwng, near Pontypridd.
This is the second allotment site in Rhondda Cynon Taf threatened with closure.
It defies common sense that in a time of rapidly rising energy costs, places to grow food locally are being stolen from communities in Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Read the full story on Green Drinks, Rhondda Cynon...... 
Yet another Rhondda Cynon Taff Allotment site is threatened with closure, this time it’s in the village of Trallwng, near Pontypridd.
Adrian Sheperd (in the photo left), Field Secretary of Mordecai’s Allotment on Merthyr Road, Trallwng, explained : “Rhondda Cynon Taf are proposing the sale of the allotment land as surplus to requirements”.
Occupancy at Mordecai’s Field Allotment site is 100% with a long waiting list. Two plots on the allotment are taken in a partnership with a local school offering precious experiences to children on how food can be grown locally.
Allotment gardening in Rhondda Cynon Taff is very popular with full occupancy and waiting lists throughout the County Borough. There is, however, intense pressure on the Labour-controlled County... 
A new Nature Reserve has officially opened in Rhondda Cynon Taff - in the heart of Pontypridd - with help from local children.
Pupils from Coed-y-Lan primary school joined a walk to mark the opening of the Craig yr Hesg Local Nature Reserve, Graigwen.
Pupils from Coed-y-Lan primary school joined a walk to mark the opening of the Craig yr Hesg Local Nature Reserve, Graigwen, led by staff from Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Countryside section. Pontypridd AM Jane Davidson and Pontypridd Town councillor, Steve Carter, also joined the event.
After the walk, a presentation was held at Pontypridd YMCA where the children’s poetry and paintings about their local environment - inspired by a day at the reserve - went on show.
Robert James, Headteacher at Coed-y-lan Primary, said: “The... 
Welsh learners from the Glamorgan Welsh for Adults Centre at the University of Glamorgan took to the air waves this week as BBC Radio Cymru presenter ‘Jonsi’ broadcast his morning show from the campus.
The learners were interviewed by the popular presenter as part of his morning programme and took the opportunity to share with the rest of Wales their own experiences of learning Welsh.
Dr Maldwyn Pate of the Glamorgan Welsh for Adult Centre commented, “It has been great having Jonsi on campus and both staff and students at the University took part in the event. Our students were interviewed live on radio which was a unique opportunity for them to practise the language and as tutors we were proud of how confidently they spoke.”
The event, which took place in a coffee shop on campus,... 
Seedy Sunday in the Valleys #2 SEED SWAP
This year at Penderyn Farmers Market …
On Sunday, February 25th, from 10am-2pm.
Come along and meet other local seedsavers, gardeners and growers, or the just plain curious.
Take advantage of the Farmers Market with many food and craft stalls available, selling quality local produce.
Bring any spare seeds - home saved or bought, from flowers, to vegetables, to trees, everything is welcome. If you don’thave anything to bring, still come and find something newto take home with you and grow.
Please pass along this message to any one you think may
have the urge to swap seeds or grow something from seed.
Seedy Sunday in the Valleys
Email... 
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is holding three pamper days for local unpaid carers.
There’ll be the chance to try aromatherapy, Indian head massage, reflexology, hot stone treatment, foot and back massage, reiki and manicures. There’s also the chance to use the leisure facilities for free.
Respite and transport can be arranged if required.
The free events will take place on:
-Thursday 1st February @ Rhondda Fach Sports Centre.
-Tuesday 6th February @ Michael Sobells Sports Centre.
-Wednesday 14th February @ Hawthorn Leisure Centre.
If you want to find out more about the pamper days or book a place call the Carersline on freephone 0808 100 1801.
Places are limited so book early.
“Being a carer can be very demanding, whether it’s for a few hours a week or 24 hours a day - carers need a... 
The folks at Adbusters remind everyone it is SLOW DOWN WEEK.
Slowing Down our lives is a step we forward we must take if we are to reduce our ‘footprint’ and impact on the environment we live in.
The need for slowing down our lifestyle is advocated by many in society today, including the Slow Food movement, people who advocate downshifting, and those who advocate Voluntary Simplicity.
American author Duane Elgin has wrote a wonderful book called Voluntary Simplicity (a title he took from Richard Gregg who explored Ghandian principles of simplicity). His article entitled Garden of Simplicity is well worth a read if you are thinking about simplifying your life and s-l-o-w-i-n-g d-o-w-n.... 
The Freecycle Network is an American business that runs freecycling groups across Wales, including Cardiff Freecycle currently Wales’ largest freecycling group.
Rhondda Cynon Taff Ecycle is NOT a part of the (American) Freecycle Network (or TFN). We are an independent local group, owned, run, and managed by local people.
Perhaps it is time we wrote a brief ‘history’ for our group now that we are nearly two years old.
Many freecyclers are unaware of the controversies surrounding the American Freecycle Network. Below is a brief summary taken from Wikipedia. Feel free to add to the article at Wikipedia.
Freecycle Network Controversies
* Corporate Sponsorship - In February 2005, Deron Beal accepted TFN’s first corporate support of $130,000 from Waste Management,... 
Photographs of the interior of the refurbished Hirwaun Scout Hall are now available in your Hirwaun Online Photograph Gallery section. The photographs were taken at the recent ceremony to unveil a plaque and officially re-open Hirwaun Scout Hall after a work was undertaken funded by a grant from Amgen Environmental Body (AEB) Ltd.
Amgen is an organisation set up under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme and was designed to allow Landfill Operators an opportunity to re-invest in their local communities and surrounding areas.
Early in 2006 a project application to obtain funding for the complete refurbishment of the hall was received by AEB from the Officers of the Hirwaun Scouts Hall. The hall is used for many activities including scouts, cubs and beavers etc.
After initial site visits were... 
Santa is such an environmentally conscious worker nowadays.
He came to the Valley early and left Rhondda Cynon Taff Green Drinks a wonderful new logo. And he came in a new hybrid sleigh powered by recycled reindeer droppings. What more could we ask ?
environment, Green Drinks, logo, rhondda cynon... 
Recycler and former railway worker Robert Grady was surprised to find a specialist railway manual offered on his local Rhondda Cynon Taff recently… Robert is an ex-railway guardsman who worked on the Valleys railway lines for many years.
As a conductor working across the Valleys railway lines, Robert carried this manual, and others, as part of his every day work load. “It’s a specialist manual called the National Routeing Guide so I was surprised to find it being freecycled,” said Robert.
“My wife Caroline and I learned to freecycle from my children… and we prefer to recycle rather than bin things… it’s such a waste.”
“We caught the train today. It was great to visit Aberdare once again.”
Photograph : Caroline and Robert Grady from Porth, in Rhondda Cynon...... 
Rhondda Cynon Taff’s Local freecycling group has adopted a new logo of sorts… a sofa.
It was discovered overlooking Llwydcoed near the busy Baverstocks Hotel.
Perhaps this might spur us on to create a Green Drinks logo!
advertising, baverstocks hotel, charity, environment, freecycling, Green Drinks, logo, rhondda cynon... 
Gilfach Goch River Rats will be cleaning up the River Ogmore Fach at Gilfach on Saturday the 2nd December 2006 at 1000hrs
The River Rats have been formed through the Gilfach Goch Community Centre based in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The group has adopted an area of the river Ogmore with the aim of carrying out cleanups & vegetation management to improve the appearance of the area.
For more information contact Ben Williams of Keep Wales Tidy at ben.williams@keepwalestidy.org or Telephone 029 2025 6767
cleanup, ecology, environment, gilfach goch, keep wales tidy, litterpick, ogmore, rhondda cynon taf, rhondda cynon taff, river, river ogmore, river rats,... 
Oooooh! Look at that new poster for a Giant Pink Sex Toy.
What on earth must residents of Gadlys, near Aberdare think of this new poster ? Gadlys people seem so reserved and respectable… they must all be tickled pink.
The sexy poster was designed by creative boffins at Rhondda Cynon Taff Council - perhaps that should be Randy Cynon Taff Council - as part of the Shape It internet project.
The logo is supposed to represent some shapeless cartoon-type character, but many people think it looks like a penis or a sex toy. Here’s a comparison of the Shape-It logo and an actual cartoon ‘buttplug’ sex toy :
Hard to tell the difference, eh ? Was it wise to put this poster up in one of the busiest roads coming out of Aberdare ? Imagine the evidence one would need to... 
Hirwaun Scout Group HQ has officially re-opened in a special ceremony at the pack HQ. Repair work was financed by a grant from Amgen Environmental Body Ltd.
Neale Thomas (Skip) said : “The building is now excellent and pretty secure too. It was a well-attended night and thanks to all who provided food and drink, including Ferraris bakery for providing the cake. Especial thanks to the County Commissioner who presented awards at that ceremony and Alun Maddox of Amgen Environmental who helped arrange the grant.”
Photograph of Hirwaun Scouts at the Remembrance Parade 2006.
amgen, county commissioner, ferraris, group hq, hirwaun, maddox, remembrance, rhondda cynon taff, scout...