First look at new Norwich recycling centre as it takes shape

Construction of one of two new recycling centres for the Greater Norwich area is well underway as pictures taken this week show.

A 300 tonne crane is currently on site at the new £2.75m Norwich North recycling centre as sections of what will be a 500,000 litre tank, an integral part of the comprehensive water management system on site, are manoeuvred into place. This tank is the largest of its kind at any of Norfolk’s recycling centres and will ensure any surface water runoff stays within the site.

Work on the major project started late last year,

and includes a new access road to the recycling centre, which is located on land off the A140/A1270 junction near the airport.

Cllr Andy Grant, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, said: “It’s great to see this work progressing so well, despite the extra pressures brought by the coronavirus pandemic and the recent severe cold snap. All the team are doing a fantastic job.

“I’m proud that the design of both sites has been shaped by local people who told us that they wanted easy access bins, smooth traffic flow through the site, a reuse shop, and plenty of car, bike and trailer parking so this is what we’ve done. I can’t wait to see this work completed and the new Norwich North site opening in the autumn.

“Together the two brand new Norwich North and Norwich South recycling centres represent a £4.65m investment in making sure that we are providing a service fit for the future and that can meet the needs of a growing population.”

The Norwich North recycling centre, which is set to replace the current Mile Cross recycling centre, is on track to open in autumn 2021. The site will complement the £1.9m Norwich South site, to be built on an underused part of the Harford park and ride site, which is scheduled to replace the smaller Ketteringham recycling centre later this year.

Both the Norwich North and Norwich South sites are at locations with good transport links to make them accessible to as many people as possible in the growing Greater Norwich area.

Further information

Timelines and more information on the two new recycling centres is available on our major projects and improvements page.

Other recycling centre improvements

• Norfolk has been expanding its network of reuse shops with 14 now at recycling centres across the county. The reuse shop at the new Norwich North recycling centre will be the largest in the county
• A new recycling centre for Wymondham as the current Wymondham Recycling Centre is very small with a single-track access road and due to proposed housing growth around Wymondham and Attleborough, we’re proposing to build a bigger site that is more accessible
• Improvements to the sites at Sheringham and Morningthorpe to increase the size of these sites, or relocate them, to improve recycling and access onto these popular recycling centres