Plans to build a new recycling centre in Haverhill have been approved.
Suffolk County Council and its partner FCC Environment, which manages all of Suffolk’s 11 recycling centres, are to relocate the Chalkstone Way Recycling Centre to a new site within FCC’s Waste Transfer Station at Homefield Road.
Permission has been granted by county council planners for the new recycling centre, together with the granting of an environmental permit, which will eventually replace the current centre in Chalkstone Way.
Construction for the new site is currently out to tender, with work anticipated to start this winter and opening expected to be during 2022.
The site will feature a modern split-level recycling centre designed to make access for residents easier and to maximize the recycling of household waste.
The benefits of this scheme will be:
- A new, purpose-designed recycling centre
- A raised mezzanine platform to provide customers with an elevated position from which to safely dispose of waste - removing the need for steps
- An easy-to-use layout allowing customers to access clearly marked recycling bays
- Reduced queuing on the highway
- Removing the need to close the facility to service the containers
- Improving accessibility and increasing capacity
- Introducing greater separation between public vehicles and larger vehicles
- A covered facility
The new design will provide queuing capacity within the site and improved access from the public highway compared to the Chalkstone Way site.
The raised level construction will improve access to the containers for site users by removing the need for stairs. It also means containers can continue to be emptied without the need to close the site.
The replacement recycling centre will overcome increasing demand at Chalkstone Way and meet the needs created by forecasted housing growth in the area.
The waste transfer station – which takes waste collected locally and prepares it for either disposal or recycling – will continue to operate at Homefield Road.
Councillor Richard Smith, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Transport Strategy and Waste, said:
“This new site will be a significant asset to the people of Haverhill and the surrounding area.
“As the communities of west Suffolk continue to grow it is important they are able to recycle and dispose of rubbish safely and efficiently.
“Together with FCC we are working to ensure people can access our new recycling site in Haverhill easily and without the hindrance of steps.”
FCC Environment Director Steve Longdon said:
“The one thing that has become crystal clear in the last 18 months is that residents value their local recycling centres and are keen to use them to maximise recycling and minimising waste.
“So, it is great to be able to design and build a facility that has been well considered throughout the whole process to meet the needs of a growing community. We are now looking forward to getting on with building it.”
