New Walsall waste plant to bring 50 jobs
Fifty new jobs will be created with the opening of a new waste and energy plant in Walsall, under plans unveiled today.
An eight acre site in Bloxwich would be transformed, creating dozens of new jobs in the process.
Up to 300,000 tons of waste would be taken to the proposed new plant off Fryers Road, in Leamore, every year, before being sorted and some of it turned into 'green energy'.
Plans have been submitted to Walsall Council by energy company BH EnergyGap.
A string of public consultations have taken place over the past few months for residents in Birchills-Leamore to find out more.
Commercial and industrial waste would be taken to the centre, which would be called the WandE, by HGVs.
It would be sorted, with some items recycled and left over waste turned into energy.
Bosses at the company said it would help other businesses manage their waste and reduce the amount of waste taken to landfill.
Keith Riley, from BH EnergyGap, said: "As the cost of waste disposal continues to rise, there is ever more pressure on businesses to ensure their waste is properly recycled and processed and not sent directly to landfill.
"However, there is a real shortage of facilities to support the local business community in delivering best practice waste management."
An 11,166 sq ft main building is planned for the site, which includes offices, a reception, meeting and conference rooms. A total of 26 car parking spaces would also be created.
An application submitted to council planners on behalf of the applicant says it would 'bring back disused industrial land in a predominantly site'.
Councillor Tina Jukes, representative for the Birchills-Leamore ward, today said there has been a mixed reaction to the proposals put forward.
"Some of the residents are concerned about the big flue they are going to have, the amount of traffic and the potential smells," she said.
"But it is a big plus creating jobs. It is a piece of wasteland and something has got to go there."
It adds the building will provide a 'clean image' away from the 'unkempt dirty image waste management has had in the past'.
The area is mainly industrial, with Walsall Council's rubbish tip also located nearby.
The proposed new plant would officially be known as a Resource Recovery and Renewable Energy Production Facility.
