Plans to create a new environmentally-friendly recycling centre at the current Keynsham waste site are taking a step forward, with work getting underway.
Plans for the Keynsham Recycling Hub in Pixash Lane | Image © B&NES Council
From mid-February, contractor Farrans will begin preparatory work to secure and prepare the site of the Keynsham Recycling Hub in Pixash Lane.
Main works are due to follow from March, and it is hoped the project will be completed in Autumn 2023
The site will include a new reuse shop, alongside the new public recycling centre, which is planned to open at the end of 2022.
B&NES Council is currently placed fourth out of 92 unitary local authorities and ranked 15th out of all 338 local authorities in England for its high household recycling rates.
This is against a national backdrop of decreased recycling.
Councillor Dave Wood, joint cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Neighbourhood Services: “Our waste modernisation and improvement programme delivers long-overdue investment in the council’s operational and public waste facilities.
“We are investing £39.1m in the new waste and recycling hub which will make it easier for people to recycle.
“It will also allow us to expand our service range in the future – helping us to improve on our already impressive recycling rate.
“In turn it will also help reduce general waste, save on operational costs and play an important part in tackling the climate and ecological emergency.”
The local authority’s cabinet will meet on 10th February to agree to the council’s budget, which includes an additional £9.2million for the Keynsham Recycling Hub.
It said the extra funding is required to “align” with current market prices in response to national increases in labour and material costs as a result of Covid-19 and to deliver the proposed development in full.
The current public-facing reuse and recycling centre at Midland Road in Bath will stay open until such time as a replacement is open in the city.
The council has said it currently anticipates this will be in Odd Down.
The new facility will also help the council meet future legislative changes. Planning consent for the Pixash Lane site was granted in July 2021.
