A new recycling site, which will serve residents and businesses across Bath and North East Somerset, will officially open on Friday 19th October, following a major redevelopment of the site at Odd Down.
Waste Recycling Bath’s Odd Down site, situated on the main A367 Wellsway, has been completely redeveloped with a focus on making it more accessible, and easier, for householders and businesses to recycle their waste in a sustainable way.
Waste Recycling Bath, which owns the site, oversaw the major redevelopment, which includes:
- Improved drainage and site access;
- A brand new site reception building and associated weighbridge;
- Modernising the materials recovery facility;
- New outside storage bays and hardstanding;
- Perimeter landscaping and fencing to help shield the site from view.
To mark the official opening, free breakfasts are being served on Friday 19th October, 9am – 3pm, to people who go along either to use the new site or simply to view it.
“At 78 by 25 metres the impressive main structure of the site is a similar size to 10 full-size tennis courts side by side, with space that could accommodate around 80 double decker buses,” said Waste Recycling Bath boss, Andy Ridings.
“It means the site will comfortably accommodate the needs of our district for many years to come and, should demand grow in future, we have planning consent to further increase capacity.
“People arriving at the new site from the Wellsway will simply drive straight to the new weighbridge next to the reception building, then tip their waste return, pay and go.
“We know there is great demand from the building and associated trades to be able to not only tip waste but to also collect materials that others have dumped, and that will be of use to them – something traders call ‘double bubble’.”
Waste Recycling Bath already recycles over 90 per cent of the waste it collects from people using its site and those hiring its skips, and Mr Ridings is confident the increased scale of the improved operation could see this rise in the next few years.
The opening of the brand new facility comes shortly after B&NES Council announced the closure of the Bath Midland Road recycling facility during 2021/22, partly due to its inability to cater for future demand.
Mr Ridings added: “We know there are many local residents and business people who feel frustration about the Midland Road site’s limitations.
“Its confirmed closure means we expect a further increase in the numbers of people using our brand new facility to recycle their household and business waste.”
The redevelopment of the Odd Down residual waste site followed receipt of unanimous planning permission from the council’s Development Management Committee.
The site had long been a key part of the Joint Waste Core Strategy, which was agreed by B&NES in partnership with neighbouring councils Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.