Recycling in Rhondda Cynon Taf is as easy as riding a bike – or recycling one!

Thanks to the Council’s latest recycling initiative residents can now turn their rusty old bikes in to “nearly new” treasures for others to enjoy at a massively reduced cost.

Everyone remembers their first experience of riding a bike and how memorable it can be – falling off, getting back on, the right of passage when the stabilisers finally come off and young people experience their first taste of freedom.

How many residents currently have bikes sitting in their sheds or garages, getting rustier by the day – what happens to all those unloved bikes?

In a bid to bring those bikes back to life and further reduce what we send to landfill the Council recently unveiled its innovative Rhys Cycle Centre.

The new centre is the latest pioneering green project to be launched by the Council’s Streetcare team and builds on its hugely successful Re-uniform scheme.

The new centre aims to re-cycle bicycles from across Rhondda Cynon Taf and bring them back to life by repainting, re-spoking, de-rusting and repairing them so that they are “nearly-new”. The bikes can then be sold to residents at a massively reduced cost.

The dedicated, purpose built centre is based in Pontypridd High School, where the scheme was initially piloted back in 2011 and has already proved a huge hit locally. Pupils from the school are able to gain skills by working with centres manager that help towards their qualifications. The centre also boasts a specific area for cycle proficiency tests to be held, ensuring the safety of young cyclists across the County Borough.

On top of this during the Spring/Summer the centre will offer residents the opportunity to hire bikes and take part in instructor led cycling tours of the picturesque Taff Trail which is a stone throw away from the centre.

Residents will shortly be able to take their bikes to the centre for repairs and servicing, further extending what the project has to offer, which will further help pupils of Pontypridd High School to build skills towards their qualifications.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, Cabinet Member for frontline Services, said:

“As a Council we are dedicated to ensuring that we recycle and reuse as much as we possibly can and work tirelessly to find innovative ways to divert waste from landfill – especially items that can reused to the delight of residents across the County Borough.

“On top of the Council’s innovative green projects the Council offers residents FREE kerbside food waste and dry recycling as well as pre arranged special collections of bulky items. The Council also boasts an award winning mattress recycling centre in Llwydcoed – all of this further demonstrates the Council’s commitment to providing a clean, green County Borough in which to live, work and visit.”

Further information on all of the innovative green projects in Rhondda Cynon Taf including your weekly kerbside recycling service or to arrange to donate your rusty old bike can be found on this website or call 01443 425001.