Walsall Council's long-awaited £32 million waste recycling centre that is dubbed 'the biggest in Europe' to open on Monday

The plans for the long-awaited facility were originally approved in May 2022, answering the council's calls for investing in the future of waste management in the borough and their efforts to create a cleaner and greener strategy.

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The new site sits on more than 7 hectares of land and features a Household Waste Recycling Centre (commonly referred to as 'the tip'), a Waste Transfer Station, and a reuse and recycle shop.

Also included is an internalised road system that is said to be able to hold around 100 cars at peak times, and 19 bays that contain around 38 skips.

Talking from the site, Walsall Council leader, Councillor Mike Bird, thanked those who made the project a reality, adding that the new state-of-the-art facility will make the region a trend setter for years to come.

Councillor Bird said: "Many people 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 example that other areas will look to and follow. As I always say, where Walsall goes, people will follow. Thank you."

Featuring 19 bays and more than 30 skips, the site is gargantuan in size and includes an internal road system and a reuse shop where residents can buy cheap items that were destined to be destroyed.

Talking about the reuse shop, Walsall Council deputy leader, Councillor Adrian Andrew, said: "It's fantastic.

"This is an incredible site that has really been developed in an incredible fashion by the team we have. And it's multifaceted. This does future-proof the future of how we handle waste in Walsall."

Throughout the development of the site, the council also addressed key issues for residents, including odour and traffic management.

Using its internal road system, the complex is said to be able to hold around 100 cars, and contains a top-of-the-range odour filtering unit that cleans air inside the building before replacing it back into the atmosphere.

With the opening of the new site, the neighbouring Merchants Way facility will be phased out, with its staff members and customers being transferred to the new location on Middlemore Lane.

The Middlemore Lane Household Waste Recycling facility will open to the public on Monday, February 2, at 9am, with Merchants Way closing from Sunday, February 1, at 5pm.