We walked around Walsall's new £32 million waste recycling centre set to open to the public on Monday - we couldn't believe the size of it
Walsall Council is preparing to open its new £32 million state of the art 'super-tip' to the public on Monday - that will answer the region's refuse needs for years to come.
Walsall Council will open its much-anticipated flagship Household Waste Recycling Centre on Middlemore Lane, Aldridge.
The grand opening marks the culmination of years of planning development works by the council, with councillors saying that the new venue stands a testament to the region's residents, and their works as officials.
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The new site sits on 7.2 hectares of land, and includes a household waste recycling centre, a waste transfer station, and a first of it's kind recycle and reuse sustainability shop where residents can buy preloved goods.
Now, in an exclusive media walk-and-talk event, we visited the new Middlemore Lane site on Wednesday to get a sneak peek.
'Many people deserve thanks for this'
The plans for the site were initially approved in May 2022, following calls for an investment into waste management in the borough, and a commitment to cleaner and greener future.
In a pre-meeting prior to walking around the site, Walsall Council leader, Councillor Mike Bird, paid tribute to all those who worked to make the venue facility a reality.
He said: "Many people should deserve the thanks for what we are seeing today.
"There was criticism about the building, about traffic issues and the smell, but they were addressed, and what we are seeing today is the work and determination of those people who had faith in this project.
"This is a fantastic building, and we now have a facility that is the embreyo of what other areas will look to and follow. As I always say, where Walsall goes, people will follow. Thank you."
'Household Waste Recycling Centre'
The first stop on our opening day tour was the Household Waste Recycling Centre, which is commonly referred to as 'the tip'.
The term 'super-tip' doesn't do justice to the sheer scale of just one section of the complex.
