New recycling centre features reuse area

A new household waste recycling centre we've built and are operating on behalf of Norfolk County Council opened on 1 October - and includes a reuse area where household items can be given a new lease of life.

The new £1.5m facility at Willows Business Park, Saddlebow, King's Lynn is 50% bigger than the town's previous recycling centre. The new centre is capable of handling more than 5,500 tonnes of waste materials per annum, of which 60%, or 3,400 tonnes, will be recycled, composted or re-used - equivalent to the weight of more than 250 double-decker buses.

The new recycling centre also features Norfolk's first trial of a re-use retail area where second hand household items can be purchased, with proceeds benefiting the local community.

Ian Monson, cabinet member for environment and waste, Norfolk County Council, said: "This purpose built recycling centre is an exciting step towards helping us keep more household waste out of landfill sites.

"Residents of West Norfolk will find that the new centre is a huge contrast to the old fashion image of 'the local tip'. The site has been specially designed to make it as easy as possible for people to recycle virtually all waste they bring to the site. Unwanted household items that can't usually be recycled such as furniture and bric-a-brac can also be given a new lease of life thanks to the reuse shelter."

Sarah Chapman, regional operations director for May Gurney Environmental Services, added: "King's Lynn Willows is a landmark for May Gurney as we designed and built the facility and will operate the site on behalf of Norfolk County Council.

"The site's unique design includes many features which will improve the overall customer experience for recyclers, and with our trained advisers on hand seven days a week to help visitors to the site, we are confident that residents will notice a major improvement at their local recycling centre."

Since February 2008, we've been providing a seven-day a week recycling service to residents in Norfolk. Under a long-term contract, we are responsible for the operation and management of the household recycling centres provided by Norfolk County Council.