For the last 30 years and beyond, we’ve been committed to improving the way we tackle waste management and recycling in Carmarthenshire. Today, we’re proud to be encouraging sustainability in our community. Here’s how we got here.
Originally named Carmarthen District Waste Disposal Company, we started life as a landfill, recovery and recycling business based in the heart of West Wales.
Originally named Carmarthen District Waste Disposal Company, we started life as a landfill, recovery and recycling business based in the heart of West Wales.
Our Household waste recycling centre opened in Trostre.
Our Household waste recycling centre opened in Trostre.
Our Household waste recycling centre opened in Wernddu.
Our Household waste recycling centre opened in Wernddu.
In 2002, we opened our first materials recycling facility (MRF) in Johnstown, Carmarthen.
In 2002, we opened our first materials recycling facility (MRF) in Johnstown, Carmarthen.
Our Household waste recycling centre opened in Whitland.
Our Household waste recycling centre opened in Whitland.
Two years later, we were renamed CWM Environmental. CWM is short for Carmarthenshire Waste Management and is the Welsh word for ‘valley’, paying homage to the beautiful natural environment we hope to look after. At this time, more and more materials were being diverted from landfill and Carmarthenshire became the first county in Wales to recycle all its cartons – all handled and baled at our MRF in Johnstown.
Two years later, we were renamed CWM Environmental. CWM is short for Carmarthenshire Waste Management and is the Welsh word for ‘valley’, paying homage to the beautiful natural environment we hope to look after. At this time, more and more materials were being diverted from landfill and Carmarthenshire became the first county in Wales to recycle all its cartons – all handled and baled at our MRF in Johnstown.
We launched our very own compost, Merlin’s Magic Compost. Made with local materials from across Carmarthenshire, this was taken over from CERT who previously created the compost part of Cardiff University’s project on IVC Composting.
We launched our very own compost, Merlin’s Magic Compost. Made with local materials from across Carmarthenshire, this was taken over from CERT who previously created the compost part of Cardiff University’s project on IVC Composting.
We opened our aggregate recycling facility to recycle construction waste back into the industry.
We opened our aggregate recycling facility to recycle construction waste back into the industry.
Our residual waste MRF opened in 2014 providing a state-of-the-art facility designed to divert waste from landfill by recovering recyclable materials through new methods. The facility also utilises materials which can’t be recycled to create feedstock for waste-to-energy plants.
Our residual waste MRF opened in 2014 providing a state-of-the-art facility designed to divert waste from landfill by recovering recyclable materials through new methods. The facility also utilises materials which can’t be recycled to create feedstock for waste-to-energy plants.
A 0.5-megawatt turbine was installed to provide power to our residual waste MRF and later our Blue MRF.
A 0.5-megawatt turbine was installed to provide power to our residual waste MRF and later our Blue MRF.
In 2015, we launched our Blue MRF to handle over 30,000 tonnes of co-mingled recyclable materials from local authorities across South and West Wales.
In 2015, we launched our Blue MRF to handle over 30,000 tonnes of co-mingled recyclable materials from local authorities across South and West Wales.
We made the decision to close our landfill site and pause all landfill projects for another 10 years. Instead, we invested in our residual waste and Blue MRFs to increase our recycling rates.
We made the decision to close our landfill site and pause all landfill projects for another 10 years. Instead, we invested in our residual waste and Blue MRFs to increase our recycling rates.
Landfills create a host of gases from methane to carbon dioxide which can be used to generate electricity. In 2017, we installed an LFG substation at our landfill site which generated enough energy to power the Nantycaws weighbridge.
Landfills create a host of gases from methane to carbon dioxide which can be used to generate electricity. In 2017, we installed an LFG substation at our landfill site which generated enough energy to power the Nantycaws weighbridge.
Our HQ moved from Johnstown to Nantycaws, repurposing an old primary school that was set for demolition.
Our HQ moved from Johnstown to Nantycaws, repurposing an old primary school that was set for demolition.
Our Blue MRF was destroyed in a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery wrongly placed in a resident’s blue bag. We’re currently planning the redevelopment of this facility with the aim of reopening in 2024.
Our Blue MRF was destroyed in a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery wrongly placed in a resident’s blue bag. We’re currently planning the redevelopment of this facility with the aim of reopening in 2024.
In 2022, we opened our Commercial waste recycling centre in Nantycaws, purpose-built to provide solutions for local businesses in Carmarthenshire.
In 2022, we opened our Commercial waste recycling centre in Nantycaws, purpose-built to provide solutions for local businesses in Carmarthenshire.
We launched Canolfan Eto, a purpose-built reuse village where donated items from our recycling centres are repaired and upcycled for resale at our various shops.
We launched Canolfan Eto, a purpose-built reuse village where donated items from our recycling centres are repaired and upcycled for resale at our various shops.
We opened our reuse shop in Llanelli, selling all kinds of upcycled treasures with all profits going towards helping us reduce waste.
We opened our reuse shop in Llanelli, selling all kinds of upcycled treasures with all profits going towards helping us reduce waste.
We also launched Eto Paint, where expert paint reuse operatives re-blend leftover and unwanted into paint that can be resold at our reuse shops.
We also launched Eto Paint, where expert paint reuse operatives re-blend leftover and unwanted into paint that can be resold at our reuse shops.
In 2023, we launched Merlin’s Magic Honey together with Gwenyn Gruffydd Welsh Honey. Since 2022, we’ve planted 11 acres of wildflowers and sunflowers and installed 12 beehives near one of our freshwater lagoons in Nantycaws, where our 900,000 bees have produced 150kgs of delicious honey in just a year!
In 2023, we launched Merlin’s Magic Honey together with Gwenyn Gruffydd Welsh Honey. Since 2022, we’ve planted 11 acres of wildflowers and sunflowers and installed 12 beehives near one of our freshwater lagoons in Nantycaws, where our 900,000 bees have produced 150kgs of delicious honey in just a year!
Meet our team
Learn more about our team at CWM Environmental.
