A £41.8m recycling hub described as state of the art and boasting the latest sustainability measures has been officially opened.
The Bath & North East Somerset Council site in Keynsham has consolidated the council’s operational facilities from three sites across the district.
It has become the central depot for more than 100 recycling and refuse collections vehicles and serves as the base for more than 200 operations and support staff, who now work in modern offices with welfare facilities.
The first phase of the hub – a public household waste, reuse and recycling centre – opened in April last year. Now construction has finished on the final phase, an operational hub to deliver frontline services such as recycling and waste collections and vehicle servicing.
The new materials recovery facility includes the latest sorting and baling equipment while a vast wooden-roofed salt and gritting barn will ensure easy access and winter gritting to nearby roads, including the A4.
In line with the council’s climate and ecological emergency declarations, the scheme includes a 3800m2 (783KWp) solar PV array on the buildings’ roofs along with rainwater harvesting, which collects water from roof tops to be stored underground and used for vehicle washing and plant watering.
The hub was officially opened this week by cabinet member for neighbourhood services, Cllr Tim Ball and council chair Sarah Moore, pictured above with council leader Kevin Guy, left.
Cllr Ball said: “The investment in construction of the purpose-built modern Keynsham Recycling Hub and the consolidation of collections, disposal and recycling processing operations will help to reduce general waste and operational costs and ensure the service can meet current pressure and future demand from an increasing population.”
Cllr Moore added: “This has been a huge project and it is exciting to declare this new modern facility officially open.”
The site also includes an MOT and servicing centre for council vehicles and public and commercial vehicles, which offers MOT testing for cars, motorcycles, motorhomes, minibuses, HGVs and vans, and a reuse shop offering pre-loved items for sale.
The council’s public recycling centre in Midland Road will remain open until an alternative site is in place.
