Walsall's highly anticipated new £32 million recycling centre, described as the largest of its kind in Europe, is now scheduled to open its gates in late January.
Permit Process Behind Schedule Shift
The state-of-the-art Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station on Middlemore Lane in Aldridge was physically completed in August. Its opening, initially projected for late 2025, was delayed pending necessary operational permits.
At a cabinet meeting on December 10, the council's leader, Councillor Mike Bird, pressed the cabinet member for street scene, Councillor Suky Samra, for an update. Councillor Samra confirmed that while the permits were "almost there", the facility could not apply for them until specific construction phases were finished.
"We built it super fast," stated Councillor Samra. "We're hoping to open sometime late in January."
A 'Future-Proof' Facility for the Region
Councillors were effusive in their praise for the new site, built on the former McKennie Brass premises. They positioned it as a benchmark for waste management that will elevate Walsall's reputation nationally.
"This site will be future proof, it is a fantastic facility and I think we will be the talk of town when it comes to recycling, not just across the West Midlands but the UK," said Councillor Samra.
Echoing this sentiment, Leader Mike Bird added, "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 'super tip' will directly replace the existing facility at Merchants Way. Once operational, it will trigger a planned sequence of closures and redevelopments at the borough's other waste sites.
Walsall Council will first close the tip at Fryers Road in Bloxwich for redevelopment. The Merchants Way site will then shut down permanently once the works at Fryers Road are complete, consolidating services into the new, larger Aldridge centre.
Councillor Bird also addressed criticism of the delay, attributing it to a misunderstanding of the regulatory process. "There are those who don't understand the system who are trying to make political statements against this council," he remarked during the meeting.
