Weston Household Waste Recycling Centre gets £2.6 million makeover

Weston-super-Mare Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) has undergone a £2.6m expansion by construction specialists, Willmott Dixon South West, to increase its capacity and help the Council increase its recycling rates.

The site is the busiest in North Somerset and previously processed 13,000 tonnes (the equivalent of 32 jumbo jets) of waste, of which it recycled more than half (60%) - putting North Somerset second in the UK's recycling table when comparing with similar unitary authorities.

The major redevelopment at the HWRC in Weston super Mare has led to the release of an additional three containers to reduce queuing times, double up space for certain types of incoming materials and provide capacity for new types of materials. 

The increased space at the Aisecome Way site also allows for more vehicles to parallel-park, with designated areas for between 18 and 20 vehicles. This is a 40% increase from the previous 12 to 14 spaces. The site is also much safer as it now has a one-way policy with no reversing, which is expected to significantly reduce queues.

The redevelopment is part of the Council's seven-year recycling and waste contract that was introduced in 2010, which it hopes will save more than £20m in landfill costs. With the centre's increased capacity, efficiency and reduced waiting times, it is also hoped that the new improved HWRC will help North Somerset Council reach its future recycling targets.

Neal Stephens, managing director for Willmott Dixon South West and Wales, said: "As a company that's committed to reducing carbon emissions and pushing the green agenda, we're very excited to be able to unveil this new and improved Household Waste Recycling Centre, which was completed with minimal disruption to the previous centre's services. 

"In addition to increasing North Somerset's recycling facilities by improving the site's capacity and allowing for a more efficient running of the centre, we've also been heavily involved in conservation of the surrounding area's wildlife. We were able to temporarily move protected species ahead of the hibernation period so there was fewer disturbances to the ecosystem while the work was ongoing.

"We're very proud to be able to have helped the Council continue its aim of making North Somerset the region with the best recycling figures in the UK."