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We visited the new £32 million Aldridge 'super-tip' on its first day of opening to the public - and what we saw left us in awe

'Enjoyable' isn't usually the word you would use when referring to a trip to the tip; however, for the new Aldridge super-tip, there's no better word.

By Daniel Walton
Published

The Aldridge Household Waste Recycling Centre welcomed its first-ever customers today (Monday) as it opened its doors to the general public for the first time.

Located on Middlemore Lane, Aldridge, the long-anticipated 'super-tip' was a long-awaited addition to the region for residents of the area, and I couldn't wait to give it a try.

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Reporter Daniel Walton tries out the new Recycling Centre, Aldridge, on the first day of opening.
Reporter Daniel Walton tries out the new Recycling Centre, Aldridge, on the first day of opening.

Of course, the tip has been open for waste transfer intake for a week prior, taking in its first load of rubbish earlier in January.

However, Monday was the first day that 'super-tip' was open to the general public, and we think that 'super' is underselling it slightly. 

More akin to a compound than a 'tip', the facility is ginormous. 

'Welcome to the tip'

The huge new £32 million state-of-the-art waste facility, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge opens to the public on Monday.
The huge new \u00a332 million state-of-the-art waste facility, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge opens to the public on Monday.

It's hard to miss the entrance as you're driving down Middlemore Lane, being both well signposted and manned by a friendly team of welcomers.

Despite visiting the venue on a number of occasions, I'm always shocked to see the scope of the complex that lies ahead.

The road, which was specially designed to help reduce traffic congestion, stretches ahead towards one of the more than 30 bays available for use.

The huge new \u00a332 million state-of-the-art waste facility, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge opens to the public on Monday.
The huge new \u00a332 million state-of-the-art waste facility, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge opens to the public on Monday.

What was surprising was the friendliness of the staff members who manned the site.

Each person in a high-vis jacket asked if I knew which bay I was heading to, and when saying that "I did not", they knew perfectly which parking space to use, and which one was the closest and most efficient.

Visiting at 10am, which we estimated may be peak time for the new location, it wasn't empty, but it felt that way.

Reporter Daniel Walton tries out the new Recycling Centre, Aldridge, on the first day of opening.
Reporter Daniel Walton tries out the new Recycling Centre, Aldridge, on the first day of opening.

In the distance, around 10 cars sat near the bays unloading their waste goods, an amount that would be verging on busy for many other tips; however, it's obvious that the new Aldridge venue was built to take many more vehicles than that.

Being open only to Walsall residents, you have to pass a checkpoint where a staff member will check your chosen form of identification before letting you through; however, it was a polite and cheery conversation, and I was inside the facility in a flash.

What was impressive was how well the site, despite the size of the building, never seemed to lack staff on site to lend a helping hand.

'Anything for the reuse shop?'

The reuse shop is ready to welcome deal hunting shoppers from across the borough
The huge new \u00a332 million state-of-the-art waste facility, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge opens to the public on Monday.

And what's more impressive was a polite worker's question of 'anything for the reuse shop?'

You see, this isn't your normal everyday 'tip'.

What makes the Middlemore Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre even more special is its dedicated 'reuse shop'.

The huge new \u00a332 million state-of-the-art waste facility, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge opens to the public on Monday.
The huge new \u00a332 million state-of-the-art waste facility, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge opens to the public on Monday.

Sitting near the entrance is the dedicated shop, a location where visitors can donate their unwanted or damaged items instead of just throwing them away. 

Once donated, the team of dedicated staff members eagerly got to work repairing and upcycling the goods into 'like-new' products for resale to the public or to donate to those in need.

The huge new \u00a332 million state-of-the-art waste facility, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge opens to the public on Monday.
The huge new \u00a332 million state-of-the-art waste facility, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge opens to the public on Monday.

In fact, I loved the reuse shop so much that we actually purchased a few items myself, including a refurbished Konig lighting tripod, which usually retails for around £20, for only £4. 

Whilst not the first in the country, it is the first of its kind in Walsall, giving new home buyers, or those just looking for a deal, an easy shop to visit where they might find what they wanted, and perhaps even more. 

'It's fantastic'

Reporter Daniel Walton tries out the new Recycling Centre, Aldridge, on the first day of opening.
Reporter Daniel Walton tries out the new Recycling Centre, Aldridge, on the first day of opening.

But don't take my word for it, we asked a visitor, who had recently dropped off some unwanted wood, what they thought of the tip.

Laura Williams, 34, from Aldridge, said: "I think it's fantastic. I had my worries about the traffic, that it might spill onto the road, but honestly, it's huge.

"I heard that around 100 cars could fit onto the site. I don't know how true that is, but it's definitely way more than you could fit onto Merchants Way and Friars Road. It's amazing, really."

In all, there are many words to describe the new 'super-tip', but we think 'enjoyable' is most fitting. A thoroughly enjoyable trip to the tip.

For a full list of opening times, and to 'view the queue' from the facilities' live camera systems, visit the Walsall Council website.