I have frequently wondered what happens to my green waste after it was collected by the CCC trucks. It is noted on the CWM web site that in excess of 24,000 tonnes of green waste is collected from households and recycling centres each year, and through a three-stage process of sanitation, stabilisation and maturation, 100% peat-free Merlin’s Magic organic compost is created.

I was invited to attend a tour of the Eto recycle village in Nantycaws by Foothold Cymru.

Eto statement:

‘Eto is CWM Environmental’s and Carmarthenshire County Council’s innovative reuse project funded by Welsh Government’s Beyond Recycling Strategy The new reuse village, Canolfan Eto, is located in Nantycaws and is the first project of its kind in Wales.

Our reuse workshop receives donated items from our recycling centres and repairs and up-cycles them for resale at our various shops. In addition to an onsite education centre and café, Canolfan Eto also features a paint reuse facility where unused paint is recycled for resale.

These initiatives are all part of our commitment to driving the circular economy, reducing waste and promoting sustainable living’.

On entering the Eto Village I was agreeably surprised by the welcoming prospect of the arrangement of 40ft shipping containers as shopping pods. They were set-out in an inviting arch, displaying a range of recycled products for-sale; these included: electrical items, wooden furniture, bicycles, paint, and a well-appointed clothing store. There was a very impressive set of linked containers in the form of a high street store with departments selling household items, a book store, and computers.

I was impressed with all the staff, who were welcoming and friendly, with a very encouraging commitment to the ethos of Eto. I was very interested in the small hovercraft that unfortunately had been sold, otherwise it would have been coming home with me. The set of three reasonable priced, repaired and refurbished mobility scooters were excellently presented. The whole area was very clean and tidy, and the caffi provided an extensive menu of reasonably priced food and drinks.

To my amazement, there was an Education Centre, which provides bite-sized classes on growing food from seeds, and a remarkable 3D printer creating products from discarded plastic water bottles.  Of particular interest was the refurbished driving simulator that was being commissioned. It had been set-up to provide young people with an opportunity to ‘drive’ a fork-lift truck around the whole Eto site; very imaginative.

We were invited to view the Repair Workshop which consisted of four 40ft shipping containers stitched together. It was a hive of activity with TV and 3D printer refurbishments. In the yard there was a group of young engineers creating a sun-tracking array of solar panels from donated components. It was still work-in-progress when we were there, but I have no-doubt that they were successful.   

We were informed that the site is working tirelessly to generate as much of their required energy as possible, and we were shown the large wind-powered turbine as an example.

Our tour continued with a tour of the recycling plant, passing enormous piles of blue and black bags awaiting processing, and then onto the handling and treatment of garden waste and the creation of Merlin’s Magic organic compost.

The visit culminated with a drive over what was, a land-fill site, but now with the Zero Waste to landfill strategy, over time the site will produce Methane and Carbon Dioxide, usually in the ratio of  60% CH4, and 40% CO2, a process called Methanogenesis.

From this ‘mountain’ we were able to view the enormity of the 200-acre site and discuss the future development of the recycling plant and the plethora of job opportunities that will be created.

Finally, we descended into the ‘wilded’ area, which consists of two man-made ponds upon which a flock of seabirds had alighted. I also counted seven bee hives from which honey could be purchased in the Eto shop.

It was such an enjoyable and education-packed day, and I’m grateful to the site management for arranging our visit.