Nottinghamshire County Council Identifies Potential Sites for Replacement Recycling Centres

Nottinghamshire County Council has announced the identification of potential new locations for three household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) it intends to replace. The council stated that its HWRCs in Mansfield, Kirkby in Ashfield, and West Bridgford are currently undergoing a review. This cross-party review commenced in 2022, prompted by concerns that several of these facilities were cramped, congested, and deemed “not fit for purpose.” Councillor Neil Clarke, the cabinet member for the environment, affirmed that no current site would cease operations until a “better and more efficient replacement is open and ready.” Preliminary plans involve consolidating the Mansfield and Kirkby in Ashfield sites into a single, “modern and more efficient” facility. Land situated off Jubilee Way in Mansfield and the Portland Industrial Park in Kirkby in Ashfield are both under consideration as possible new locations for this combined centre. Furthermore, the council indicated that the existing site at Rugby Road, West Bridgford, was “no longer fit for purpose” because of local housing growth and problems with vehicle queues during peak periods. Several locations were identified as potential replacements for the West Bridgford HWRC, with the site adjacent to the Gamston Highways Depot undergoing additional investigation as a prospective alternative, according to waste management officials. Clarke stated that the council remains in the preliminary exploration phase, with no construction work having commenced on the proposed new sites. He commented, “This process identified that the recycling centre provision in the south and west of the county is not currently fit for purpose.” He added, “The development of new sites in these areas would improve capacity and provide Nottinghamshire residents with a service that is sustainable as we look ahead to the future.” Clarke further explained, “As with any site search, a number of sites were identified by our property team and we have now reduced this shortlist to those that we feel will be best place to accommodate a recycling centre.” He concluded, “Now that these further detailed investigations have been approved, we will be looking closely at the viability of locating new recycling centres on these sites and we will continue to update residents with our progress as we look ahead to making our current network more efficient.”