Council aims to recycle 98% of demolished centre

Up to 98% of materials from the demolition of one of its shopping centres will be recycled, a council has pledged.

Work to knock down The Riverside centre in Shrewsbury has been continuing since last August, as the site is cleared to make way for a new park.

Shropshire Council said concrete aggregate from the demolished building will be used in the foundations of new buildings on the Smithfield Riverside development.

Shrewsbury's Men's Shed group are also repurposing the centre's urinals to create a compost toilet for their base at the town's showground.

The authority has now published a brochure, detailing further how different materials, like metals, wood and concrete, will be recycled.

Ian Nellins, the council's deputy leader, said the council was proud of its commitment to sustainability throughout the project.

"We've been able to ensure that almost all of the materials in the old shopping centre are recycled, and we'll even be reusing some of them right here in Shrewsbury, including in the development itself," Mr Nellins said.

The demolition site is now almost empty, with one small corner of the former shopping centre left to be knocked down over the coming weeks.

The name of the new park is expected to be revealed in March, following an online vote.

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