Walsall's long-awaited new £32 million recycling centre, hailed as potentially the largest of its kind in Europe, is now scheduled to begin operations in late January 2025.
Permit Process Behind Delay
The official opening of the Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station on Middlemore Lane in Aldridge was delayed from its original late 2025 target. The issue was raised at a Walsall Council cabinet meeting on December 10, where the portfolio holder for street scene, Councillor Suky Samra, provided an update.
Councillor Samra explained that the permits required to operate the facility could only be applied for after specific construction phases were complete. "We built it super fast. The permits are almost there and we’re hoping to open sometime late in January," she stated.
A 'Future-Proof' Facility for the Region
Council leaders have passionately defended the project against political criticism regarding the delay. The leader of the authority, Councillor Mike Bird, argued that critics "don’t understand the system" and are making unfounded political statements.
Both councillors heaped praise on the new centre. Councillor Samra described it as "future proof" and a "fantastic facility" that will make Walsall a leader in recycling "not just across the West Midlands but the UK." Councillor Bird went further, claiming, "I think it’s the biggest in Europe. It will be the envy of other councils and as I always say, where Walsall leads, others follow."
Redevelopment Plans for Existing Sites
The new facility, built on the former McKennie Brass site, will replace the existing tip at Merchants Way. Once operational, it will trigger a planned redevelopment of the borough's other sites.
Walsall Council will immediately close the Fryers Road tip in Bloxwich for redevelopment. The Merchants Way site will then shut permanently once the works at Fryers Road are finished, consolidating services into the new, larger Aldridge hub.
The council anticipates the state-of-the-art centre will significantly enhance recycling rates and waste management services for local residents, offering capabilities that previous sites lacked.
