BARRY Island Primary School has helped the Vale of Glamorgan Council to launch two new environmental schemes.

"Tidy Towns" and the council’s kitchen waste trial are two schemes which will impact on residents across the Vale during the next few years.

The initiatives were launched at the school by Vale cabinet member for visible and building services, Cllr Geoff Cox, and operational manager for waste management and cleansing, Clifford Parish.

The Vale council’s kitchen waste trial offers around 5,000 residents the facility to recycle even more household waste at the kerbside.

Early in January, residents in parts of Barry Island, Dinas Powys, Lower Penarth/Lavernock, St Athan and Sully will receive a newsletter, information sheet and a kit consisting of a kitchen caddy, a supply of biodegradable liners and a kerbside caddy. Residents living in flats will receive a central large wheelie bin.

The scheme runs from Monday, February 2, until Friday, May 1, and residents involved in the three-month trial will have their kerbside caddies or wheelie bins emptied on a weekly basis on their usual collection day. Black bin bags will be collected on alternate weeks.

Operational manager for waste management and cleansing, Clifford Parish, said: "We are delighted to be testing a new initiative that will see food collected, treated locally and then recycled into a soil enhancer.

"Typically, a third of a black bin bag is usually kitchen waste, so this will be collected weekly to avoid potential smells from lingering."

The caddies are lockable, durable and lightweight, making them easy to carry, and should decrease the amount of waste created by scavenging creatures such as seagulls, foxes and domestic pets.

Cllr Cox adds: "This is a very exciting time and we’ve already had queries from residents asking if they can be involved.

"Judging by the initial reaction from residents, and from the support received, we are hopeful of including even more Vale households from spring next year."

The Welsh Assembly Government recently awarded all Welsh local authorities a "Tidy Towns" grant to improve their local environment, with the Vale of Glamorgan receiving £331,000 over the next three years.

The Vale Tidy Towns steering group is now inviting community groups to suggest plans to undertake voluntary work in the Vale’s four towns, villages and the rural Vale, that meet the scheme’s objectives.

Cllr Geoff Cox said: "The waste management and cleansing team are welcoming applications from interested parties.

"There is nearly a third of a million pounds available to assist and this grant will allow many community groups to make a difference visually. The grant may also be used for some prevention or education schemes."

The Welsh Assembly Government has indicated that the Vale of Glamorgan must achieve a recycling target of 12 per cent by 2012. Welsh Authorities who fail to do so may have hefty fines imposed.

For a Tidy Towns application pack or for further information on either of the two schemes, including a list of street names involved in the kitchen waste trial, telephone 01446 700111, visit www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/recycle or email visible@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk.

The waste management and cleansing team will be hosting kitchen waste recycling road shows in January; inviting residents to come along and see the kit, feedback on any issues and ask questions.

Details of locations and times are available on the website or by contacting OneVale on 01446 700111.