Work on new recycling centre could start this year

Paul Moseley
BBC political reporter, Norfolk
Getty Images A road sign pointing towards a recycling and waste centre.Getty Images
The current Wymondham recycling centre is one of the smallest of the 19 in Norfolk

Work on a new recycling centre in Norfolk is expected to begin later this year.

Senior county councillors are expected to back plans to search for a contractor to build the new centre for Wymondham, which will replace the town's existing one.

A report said that whilst funding for the project was confirmed in 2020, work had been delayed because of the pandemic and the need to have a "complex drainage strategy" for the new site.

The council said the new centre – which would be built south of the town and next to the B1172 – would be larger than the current one, be open more often and take in a wider range of recycled materials.

The report for the Conservative-controlled council's cabinet said the existing centre, on Stayground Lane, was the second smallest in Norfolk.

It opens only four days a week, is unable to accept all the forms of recycling laid out in government rules and has limited parking.

Norfolk County Council A map showing the positions of the current recycling centre and the planned new one. The current one is on the edge of Wymondham, the new one will be about two miles south-east of the town.Norfolk County Council
Norfolk County Council said it planned to build the new centre south of Wymondham, near the A11

The planned new site will have a Reuse shop selling secondhand goods.

It will have the same opening hours as other larger recycling centres in Norfolk, which currently open seven days a week but from June will be closed on Wednesdays as part of a plan to save money.

Other measures brought in to cut costs include the introduction of a booking system for recycling centre users and new charges for trade waste.

The cabinet is being advised to approve the search for a contractor to build the new site, with the project costing up to £3m.

The authority is expected to seek planning permission in spring/summer and, if it is granted, work could begin before the end of the year.

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