OPINION: Every year, the UK generates millions of tonnes of waste, with a considerable amount being directed to landfills or exported overseas. Despite ambitious recycling targets and a growing public awareness of the environmental impact, are we truly managing our waste sustainably?
Directing waste away from landfill needs to be a top priority for councils. However, in the absence of adequate infrastructure, communities frequently rely on outdated systems that struggle to handle growing demands and fall short of achieving reuse and recycling objectives.
To tackle this problem head on, Walsall council has set out to reduce landfill waste and increase recycling rates in the community through the construction of a state-of-the-art Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) and Waste Transfer Station (WTS). And to bring this project to life, the council appointed our Midlands team at Morgan Sindall Construction, procured through Pagabo Major Works Framework.
We’re currently building both facilities on the six-hectare site, formerly occupied by McKechnie Brass Ltd, on Middlemore Lane. Scheduled for completion in August 2025, this project aims to provide modern, user-friendly facilities that will allow the Walsall community to recycle a broader array of items than is currently possible. Additionally, the project will also boost service capacity, reduce queues, and introduce a reuse shop to divert items from landfills.
How thoughtful design renders operational success
Through thoughtful design, we’ve constructed the new HWRC to feature a maximum throughput capacity of 40,000 tonnes per annum across 19 bays, each housing two skips. This high-capacity facility will efficiently process large volumes of waste, slashing Walsall’s reliance on landfill. And with a total of 19 bays, Walsall will benefit from the efficient separation of materials such as metals, plastics, glass and hazardous waste. This not only streamlines the waste removal process but also reduces contamination by clearly segregating bays, making it easier for users to dispose their waste correctly. As for Walsall’s residents, the additional bays will establish a smoother traffic flow, reducing queueing time and creating a more convenient recycling experience.
Meanwhile, we’re constructing the WTS to accommodate up to 125,000 tonnes per annum of collected municipal waste and recyclate. This spare throughput capacity future-proofs the facility against potential population growth, and the corresponding increase in recycling needs within the borough. By constructing this bulk transport facility, it will be possible to split waste up before transporting it to recycling, treatment, or disposal sites. This will reduce vehicle movements, cutting fuel and operational costs for a more sustainable facility. Furthermore, by facilitating the pre-sorting of recyclables before onward processing, more waste is diverted towards recycling, composting, or energy recovery.
In addition to constructing the HWRC and WTS, our team is constructing weighbridges, service yards and ventilation systems. The weighbridges will play a crucial role in facilitating accurate waste tracking, thereby improving efficiency and ensuring compliance throughout the organisation. Additionally, the service yards will offer a secure and organised environment for vehicle manoeuvring, maintenance and waste management, which will contribute to reducing congestion and operational delays once they are in use.
Ventilation systems will be key to control odour and enhance the air quality for employees and visitors. In fact, Walsall council has invested in a £1 million complex odour control system within the project, including six 45-kilowatt extract fans and a ventilation system running at 229,000m3/hour that changes the air in the waste transfer centre by three air changes per hour. By installing this ventilation system, our team will remove the odour from the bays, passing all smells through a bank of six containers which are full of an Active Carbon Bed. The dust is also controlled by a high efficiency filtration system to below 5mg/m3.
To further keep dust to a minimum, the wall mounted odour and dust control units are located six metres above the waste storage bays in four locations within the Waste Transfer Centre Buildings. The Probe Atomisers use a spinning head and centrifugal action to splice water into billions of microscopic droplets, producing a uniformed light mist which covers up to 30 meters. This is then further enhanced by an oscillating kit which increases the spray cover of each fan by 180 degrees.
Additionally, atomisers are treated with the odour control eliminator, AiroPure, which destroys odours immediately by changing their molecular structure to be fragrance-free. This agent is fully licenced and approved for use in the NHS and commercial applications.
To further enhance the comfort of the work environment, the project team is developing office and welfare facilities for both operational and management staff. These amenities are designed to provide the team with spaces to relax and recharge, with the aim of boosting overall morale.
A reuse shop will provide staff with space to refurbish items that would otherwise have been thrown away. The items, all in good and safe condition, will then be sold to the public at a low cost.
Making a tangible difference throughout construction
This project plays a vital role in Walsall council’s strategy to modernise and enhance waste management services within the area.
However, beyond the benefits that the finished project will deliver, our team here at Morgan Sindall has put sustainability at the forefront throughout construction. We’ve rolled out the “10 Tonne Challenge”, an initiative that encourages employees to work with consultants and its supply chain to find Intelligent Solutions that reduces carbon from the construction process by a minimum of 10 tonnes. As a result, we’ve saved 354 tonnes of carbon on the project, far exceeding the target. We’ve achieved this by manipulating the steel production process by using 60% of steel manufactured using EAF, as well as reducing peninsular concrete.
Additionally, by using GAIA Automate, an advanced energy management system designed to optimise power usage on construction sites through AI and motion sensor technology, we’ve successfully reduced emissions on site by 80%. We’ve also successfully diverted 98% of waste from landfill throughout construction, fulfilling Walsall’s plans for greener practices before even opening the facilities.
To maximise the positive impact of our project in the community, we have engaged 69% of our workforce from the local area, specifically hiring operatives within a 20-mile radius of the site. Additionally, we have brought on board 19 apprentices and five graduates and have hosted nine school visits to provide students with practical experience aimed at launching their careers in construction. Supporting the next generation of construction professionals is a priority for our entire team.
In the spirit of supporting the local community, we collected £700 worth of items to help support the most vulnerable in Walsall through the cold winter weather, donating all items to the local charity Walsall Outreach. And by collaborating with EMR to donate scrap metals collected from the site for recycling, the proceeds from these materials amounted to £3,067 which was donated to Acorns Children’s Hospice in Walsall, delivering social value where it counts most.
So far, we’ve generated a total of £753K worth of social value during construction.
Councillor Kerry Murphy, portfolio holder for street pride at Walsall council, said: “The project is progressing well and is starting to take shape, we are very happy with how things look so far. This project enables us to deliver a quality service as we move forward, for years to come. This includes ensuring we are in a position to manage our ever-increasing population.
“The reuse shop is also a part of the project we are very proud of and can’t wait to get started. Items that typically end up in landfills will be repaired and reused, benefiting the environment and our residents.”
Despite some of thechallenges we have faced on site as you’d expect from a project of this scale – such as the removal of a significant amount of lying surface water before construction to ensure stable foundations – the project is progressing on track to complete this summer. We very much look forward to seeing Walsall’s community enjoy this exceptional facility and celebrating its opening with the whole team later this year.
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