I'm a hoarder but I also like a good purge. The place to chuck clutter if you're really serious is…read moreof course the local tip. Bessemer road is my local so to speak and is also one, if not the, newest refuse recycling centres in Cardiff. As such it recycles pretty much everything, bar asbestos and a few other hazardous materials. You can recycle rubble, plasterboard, metal, card, plastic, bikes, electrics, car batteries, tins of paints, clothes, general waste and more. Most of the guys here will help you unload your stuff. Keep your eyes peeled. One time I visited Bessemer close I was lucky enough to see an urban fox (see photo). He just sat and watched us - what an amazing experience!

it's also great for picking up some great unwanted stuff to take back with you. I've picked up some…read morepaint, there's always kids bikes & scooters there, & i've see bits of furniture & records. Just be careful you don't come back with more than you took!

This recycling centre, or tip as it's more commonly known, is a fantastic resource sitting over in…read moreSt Phillips. It's a little tricky to find but is well worth seeking out. It's obviously very important to recycle but what of the odd bits and bobs that the door collectors won't take for whatever reason? Well, this place takes EVERYTHING. As well as the obvious things like paper, glass and metal, you can also clear out the stuff that's always left in the bottom of your box, like plastic and cardboard. Going beyond that, they also, off the top of my head, take batteries, clothes, electrical appliances. There's even a special section for TVs and a gardening area where you can dump all the overgrown waste from your garden. A great way to unclutter your house and help the envorinment, all in one. NOTE: IT SHUTS AT 4.15PM IN WINTER, 6.45PM IN SUMMER.

Helping Bristol with its greener-than-thou eco points is the amazing tip, sorry, yes, recycling…read morecentre. So organised and staffed by what most be the most tolerant very large men in the city, you drive through and can throw all sorts of stuff over the precipice into their correct sections. If you want to get rid of it, chances are that they have a section for it. If in doubt, just ask any of the men and they will help rather than blindly going for the 'general' section. It does get very busy on bank holiday weekends and sunny Sundays but even with a queue out to Barrow Road you won't have to wait too long because of said organisation. In one way and out the other, easy as pie.

I sent off for a quote Thursday evening, had a call back Friday afternoon for a quote and possible…read morecollection on Saturday at 12pm. So far so good, I thought. The guy I dealt with was professional and there was a quick response. Saturday, 11:30am, they call saying they can't make it for 12 so ask if we can rearrange for 15:00 or anytime the following day. Given that my car is at this point sat on a road in a nearby town and not where I live, and that I'm reliant on other people to get there, I agree to 15:00. It's not ideal, but fair enough these things happen. We get there for the agreed time, and there's no sign of them. After 10 minutes, I call them just to check where they are and I'm told that their guy has just left (!) and will be with us in about 20 minutes. 50 minutes later, after no communication from them, I call back and get told that they have no idea why their guy hasn't turned up yet, but I should sit tight and they'll call back in 10 minutes with an update after they call their guy. At 16:20, after no call back, I call them and it either goes straight to voicemail or just rings out. This happened repeatedly until we finally decided to give up at 16:48. This company's website boasts "lightning fast" service with "collections arranged at a time to suit your convenience". Absolute rubbish. It's not the fact that they couldn't make it that was frustrating, it's the fact that there was absolutely zero communication from them which led to us ultimately sitting around for the better part of 2 hours for no good reason. It is pathetic and unprofessional. I've left a voicemail asking for a call back to explain what went on, but let's be honest, that's probably asking too much of these jokers.

Wales' first and only environmental and ethical living magazine hit the streets of South Wales last…read moreweek. Green Matters Wales is a new quarterly publication that tackles the issues of climate change and fair trade and shows people how they can make a huge positive impact on the environment without having to make life-changing sacrifices. Coinciding with Wales formally being proclaimed the world's first Fairtrade nation, the launch of Green Matters Wales magazine reflects the growing concerns that people have about ethical consumerism and environmental issues. The magazine will offer thought-provoking editorial, topical discussions and lifestyle commentary on the environmental and ethical issues affecting us all: from the cars we drive or the origins of the food we eat, to how we can be greener in the office. By being 'lifestyle' based, Green Matters Wales aims to help people understand how climate change and ethical consumerism affects their daily lives and, most importantly, how they can make effective changes. A report conducted by the Fraser Consultancy found that: 3 out of 5 consumers in the UK do not feel that they have enough information to make informed ethical decisions . And that's where Green Matters Wales should fill the gap. It will cover: food and drink, health and beauty, money, news, eco-fashion, recycling, travel and transport all with an environmental and ethical perspective. The first issue of Green Matters Wales features an exclusive interview with the UK's leading environmental figure - Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association. Mr Holden described the magazine as an absolutely brilliant idea in a recent interview for the launch issue, in which he talks about Wales' growing love for organic food, the looming peak oil crisis, and why we should all be thinking globally but act locally. Issue One also features an interview with Jane Davidson, Minister for the Environment for the Welsh Assembly Government. Green Matters Wales is freely available at various locations throughout the region and can also be downloaded online at http://www.greenmatterswales.com An initiative like this one deserves everybody's support!

The boss here has always been fair and friendly. As an art student (pre health and safety) I…read morerifled through metal shavings to find prized parts for autonoma and more recently I've cashed in copper and got good prices. The main man hardly takes his eyes off the screen - watching the fluctuating prices of metal flicker up and down. Outside the broken bodies of cars are piled up and metals are divided into their types and weighed. I have some old lead from our roof to be weighed up, first stop Cooper Metal Recyling Ltd.

Track 2000 converts tat into treasure…read more This not-for-profit organisation offers second hand furniture to those on a low income, it also trains the unemployed and aids the recycling effort to boot. You can pick up second hand beds, settees, wardrobes and white goods from their warehouse. The ethos is great and it's a fantastic asset for the Cardiff community, but I did find some of the furniture a little overpriced and some of the sofas in need a clean. The building itself is Victorian red brick, with a number of large biodiesel powered lorries loitering outside. Look out for the washing machine drums on the side of the building, which offering fantastic natural drainage and have been converted into ingenious plant holders. Bonus: Just ask and Track 2000 will deliver your furniture purchases