The newly redeveloped Ware Recycling Centre has been officially opened today (Wednesday 28 October), ahead of opening to the public on Saturday 31 October. The first of its kind in Hertfordshire, the new ‘supersite’ is four times larger than its predecessor and has been designed to handle up to 300,000 visits and up to 10,000 tonnes of waste a year.
Featuring a split-level design allowing the majority of waste to be deposited without the need for lifting or carrying up steps, the new centre offers 38 spaces for parking and unloading. A purpose-built Reuse Centre has also been unveiled, offering residents the opportunity to deposit, browse and buy reusable items that would have otherwise been thrown away. Accessed via a newly created internal road to keep centre users off the main road, the facility also features a designated area for the removal of full containers to minimise disruption to the public during opening hours.
The centre was formally opened by Colette Wyatt-Lowe, Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council, who heralded the centre as a blueprint for the improved standard of facilities the council aims to deliver for residents, and a step forward in Hertfordshire’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
David Williams, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said: “The opening of the new recycling centre in Ware marks a key milestone in our ongoing commitment to sustainability in the county. I’d like to thank residents for bearing with us during the redevelopment of the centre, which has allowed us to create a larger, easier to use facility designed to be accessible for all and minimise delays and closures.
“This is an important investment in Hertfordshire’s infrastructure, which will help make the county more environmentally sustainable and ready for the future. With 100,000 new homes due to be built in Hertfordshire in the next 15 years, it’s vital that we upgrade facilities such as these so that we can cope with the expected growth.”
The new recycling centre has been constructed for the county council by Balfour Beatty, who undertook extensive earthworks on the old landfill site to remove and replace material that could not be reused due to contamination, and install drainage infrastructure. This has seen in excess of 14,000 tonnes of contaminated material removed and sent for recycling. More than 1,500 new trees have been planted at a nearby site, and a new wildflower meadow created, to offset the environmental impact of the construction work.
The power for the new Ware Recycling Centre is being generated from gas from the neighbouring landfill site. The council is working in partnership with Biffa Waste Services who extract methane gas from the landfill site, which is used to power their electrical generators. This renewable source of electricity means a significantly reduced reliance on the use of fossil fuels and ensures that this recycling centre is powered by waste produced by Hertfordshire’s residents and businesses.
