Work started this week (26 May 2026) on the facility at Colts Holm Road in Old Wolverton, with an expected 20-week construction programme.
According to Milton Keynes City Council, the new centre is designed to improve the experience for residents using household waste and recycling services, while increasing overall capacity and supporting reuse initiatives across Milton Keynes.
The development forms part of wider plans by the council to replace and modernise existing recycling infrastructure across the city.
At full capacity, the current sites can accommodate around 395,000 visits annually, with limited room for expansion.
The council’s longer-term plans aim to almost double annual capacity to around 700,000 visits through the development of new recycling and reuse centres in Wolverton and Snelshall.
Commenting on the start of construction, Cabinet Member for Public Realm, Jennifer Wilson-Marklew said: “We need modern facilities that keep up with demand and give local people a better experience.
“These centres will be easier to use, more efficient and more sustainable, and we’re investing in this infrastructure now so that Milton Keynes people get the benefits for many years to come.”
Wolverton recycling centre
The Wolverton site will feature step-free split-level access, allowing residents to deposit materials directly into containers.
The facility will also include improved signage, weatherproof canopies, and clearer separation between members of the public and heavy vehicle movements.
Additional features include dedicated facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, alongside enhanced accessibility measures for residents with mobility issues.
The new facilities are expected to broaden the range of accepted materials, including carpets and asbestos, while introducing reuse and repair shops intended to give unwanted household items a second life.
Sustainability measures are also being incorporated into the project, with greener infrastructure including solar power generation and ambitions for at least one future site to operate fully off-grid.
In the longer term, the Wolverton facility is expected to form part of a wider Eco Park development that would generate renewable energy for the city and contribute towards reducing carbon emissions.
The council has just signed a new 10-year contract with Suez Recycling and Recovery UK, expanding its existing relationship, which has been delivering household waste collections and street cleansing services in the city since September 2023.
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