Walsall is stepping into the future of waste management with the completion of its brand-new £32 million Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station in Aldridge.
The new facility is designed to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill by improving recycling rates and sorting capacity. It features 19 bays, each with two skips, and has the capacity to manage up to 40,000 tonnes of waste a year. A reuse shop and workshop area will also operate on site, refurbishing items for resale and keeping usable goods out of the waste stream.
Since construction wrapped up, everything is now set to open to the public later in 2025.
Beyond infrastructure, the project has already generated measurable social value:
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The construction phase alone contributed £753,000 in social value.
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Local employment was prioritised, with 69% of the workforce hired from within a 20-mile radius.
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19 apprentices and 5 graduates were recruited to gain real hands-on experience.
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Community engagement included school visits, donations of winter essentials to Walsall Outreach, and support for Acorns Children’s Hospice via metal recycling initiatives.
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The build also emphasised sustainability: over 354 tonnes of carbon saved through materials choices and energy efficiency, and 98% of construction waste diverted from landfill.
From the construction side, Morgan Sindall Construction emphasised how sustainability and community were built in from day one:
“It’s an incredible achievement … sustainability is core to everything we do, so it makes us proud to deliver a project that will actively contribute to landfill diversion, increased recycling rates, and an overall cleaner borough for Walsall’s residents. Through our commitment to delivering social value … we’ve built a lasting connection with the local community.”
From the council’s perspective, Walsall Council’s Place & Environment leadership highlighted how crucial the facility is:
“This project is a huge development for Walsall. What has been delivered here is truly a state-of-the-art facility … working with Morgan Sindall has been seamless throughout. It’s been fabulous watching the plans come into reality.”