Funding secured for 1.9m Essex recycling centre

The Corporation – which is a government agency aimed at regenerating the London Thames Gateway – has agreed to contribute up to £990,000 in grant funding to Thurrock council to develop the centre at St Clements Way in West Thurrock.

It claimed the centre would play an “essential role” in reducing the volume of domestic waste going to landfill in Thurrock and also provide “innovative” means of dealing with waste by offering a recycling and reuse service on the same site.

The reuse service, which is set to be run by a community business or social enterprise, is intended to refurbish and re-sell discarded items and is aimed at contributing towards national and local waste diversion targets.

Corporation chairman, Will McKee, said: “The Development Corporation Board is pleased that its funding enables the council to proceed with the waste recycling and re-use centre.

“We fully support this landmark project as the centre represents an essential component of the infrastructure required to support population growth, promote environmental sustainability and develop Thurrock's expertise in the environmental technology sector,” he added.

Garry Hague, leader of Thurrock council, said: “The new centre will play a crucial role in the Council's emerging Waste Strategy which aims to promote Thurrock as a leading Borough in the sustainable collection, treatment and onward disposal of our waste.

“The council appreciates this financial support from the Development Corporation. Both our organisations are deeply committed to improving the local environment and I welcome this new facility which will divert up to 25,000 tonnes per annum of waste which would otherwise have gone to landfill,” he added.

Physical construction of the Thurrock site is set to be completed in August, with Thurrock council hopeful of it becoming operational then aswell.

The Corporation has said that around 80% of Thurrock's waste is potentially recyclable, so there is an opportunity to recycle or compost much more than the 27% currently being treated in this way.

The potential for transforming the waste into another useful product, such as various types of fuel, is also being explored and this could provide a more comprehensive environmental technological solution in the longer term.

Plans for the St Clement's Way facility come as part of a £4.7 million plan by the council to overhaul waste and recycling in the local authority, which also includes the roll-out of a three wheeled bin collection service aimed at improving the recycling rate.