Construction begins on £32m Walsall waste centre

Morgan Sindall Construction has broken ground on a £32m household waste recycling centre and waste transfer station in Walsall.

The Middlemore Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre project is part of Walsall Council’s strategy to modernise and enhance waste management services within the area.

Located on the former McKechnie Brass site, the new facilities will play a role in meeting local and national waste management targets by reducing landfill waste and increasing recycling rates.

354 tonnes of carbon have been saved through the ’10 Tonne Carbon Challenge’, which involves working with consultants and the supply chain to find solutions to reduce carbon from the buildings Morgan Sindall delivers by a minimum of 10 tonnes.

The Middlemore Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre will feature a maximum throughput capacity of 40,000 Tonnes Per Annum (TPA) across 19 bays, each housing two skips, while the Waste Transfer Station will accommodate up to 125,000 TPA of collected municipal waste and recyclate, with spare throughput capacity to future-proof against the potential growth in waste arisings.

The project, procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework, is scheduled to be completed within 64 weeks, with Morgan Sindall overseeing all aspects of the technical design and construction to ensure the successful delivery of the facilities.

Richard Fielding, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands said: “It was great to break ground and mark the start of works on the site of this crucial sustainability project together with representatives from Walsall Council, Wardell Armstrong, Atkins Realis, and Pagabo today.

“Delivering key infrastructure for the benefit of local communities is at the heart of what we do at Morgan Sindall, and we’re pleased to be working with Walsall Council to help them achieve their ambition of creating a healthier, cleaner and safer borough for its residents.”

Elliott Talbot, framework manager at Pagabo said: “The climate crisis has been well documented in recent years with an increase in landfill waste being one of the biggest threats to our environment, so it’s great to see Walsall Council putting its green foot forward and prioritising investment in a management system that will increase recycling rates.

“It’s always brilliant to be down on site to see work getting underway, and for that to happen so quickly is testament to a smooth procurement process. With social value being so important to us here at Pagabo, we know the work will benefit the community on its way to completion and beyond, delivering key infrastructure that will increase community engagement and work towards a cleaner future.”

Cllr Adrian Andrew, deputy leader and portfolio holder for economic growth and regeneration said: “This project is a massive investment for the future of the borough and a commitment to our cleaner and greener strategy.

“Our current facilities have served us well, but this project will accommodate increasing demand and help us all to recycle and reuse more of our waste.

“Importantly, the site will house banks of solar panels, generating much of the renewable energy needed to run the site.”