FROM the end of the month every recycling bank in the Vale of Glamorgan will close, with the "abuse" of the sites being cited as one of the reasons behind the cost-cutting measure.

A report that went before the Vale Council's Cabinet explained that all19 drop off recycling banks across the Vale have been under used and subject to fly-tipping - requiring regular and costly clean-ups of up to five tonnes of rubbish every week.

Figures also show that since the introduction of kerbside recycling collections, the banks were contributing just 0.89 per cent of the overall recycling collected by the Vale each month.

Singled out as being particular targets for fly-tipping are the Court Road site in Barry, Penarth's Cliff Tops car park and The Green, Partridge Road, St Athan.

Lately, the report states, Barry's Morrison car park bank and the Bron y Mor site at the Knap have also been subject to abuse.

The full list of closing sites includes Barry's Morrisons car park, Waitrose car park, Wyndham Conservative Club, Bridge cafe car park, Civic Offices, Glenbrook Inn and Barry Island Sports and Social Club, Porthkerry Leisure Park, Rhoose Community Centre; Penarth's Cliff Tops car park; St Athan Community Hall, St Athan The Green and Sully's Sports and Social Club car park.

These sites are among the remaining 19 recycling banks in the Vale following the decision to close nine sites in December 2013 and the voluntary closure of two Holiday Park sites in April 2014.

The report states: "The public abuse of these sites has resulted in significant enforcement and clean-up costs with many resident complaints, and their continued provision is considered more of a burden than an advantage to the council."

It continues, explaining that although removal of the banks may not eliminate fly-tipping at the sites the problem should eventually cease.

"It is likely that the removal of the bring banks will reduce the amount of fly-tipping offences currently being experienced at the site locations," it says. "Although it is anticipated that certain sites will still be subject to such problems even though they are no longer operational, due to the length of time that they have been in use. This is a problem which should rectify itself over time."

Cabinet Member for Environment and Visible Services, Cllr Rob Curtis, said: “Problems at the bring bank sites have resulted in up to 5 tonnes of fly tipping being removed each week, with many loads of recycling having to be landfilled due to contamination.”

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is facing significant financial pressure due to cuts in public sector funding and around £32 million needs to be saved over the next three years.

Kerbside collections in the Vale of Glamorgan will be unaffected by these closures and two recycling centres will remain open.

Recycling can still be taken to the Barry Recycling Centre at the Atlantic Trading Estate - open 10sam to 4pm in winter and 8am to 6am in summer - or to Llandow Industrial Estate.

For more information on the Household Waste Recycling Centres visit www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk or contact C1V on 01446 700111.