WORK is almost finished on the first phase of the Keynsham Recycling Hub, which will see the new reuse and recycling centre open later in the spring.
The new recycling centre will offer improved facilities for residents, more recycling bays and the option to recycle additional materials, including mattresses and hard plastics, together with separation of other items such as upholstered furniture for appropriate treatment.
Plans are being developed for a reuse shop, due to open later in the year, to provide second-hand items for sale and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
Once the new centre is open, the current site in Pixash Lane will close to be developed as part of phase two of Keynsham Recycling Hub.
The current recycling centre in Pixash Lane will be open as usual over Easter, and the opening hours can be found on the Bath & North East Somerset Council website https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/keynsham-recycling-centre
Public access to the new reuse and recycling centre will be via World’s End Lane, which has been widened to a two-way road with a dedicated cycle path and footpath. Visitors will be advised to use the signposted route via Broadmead Lane roundabout and Ashmead Road.
All council operational vehicles will use a separate site entrance in Pixash Lane. There will be parking restrictions along Pixash Lane, World’s End Lane and a stretch of Ashmead Road to ease traffic flows, and the council says separate entrances will improve operating efficiency and safety of the hub.
Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of the council, said: “The contractor, Farrans, has been carefully scheduling works during construction to reduce the level of disruption to residents and motorists, and everyone is working hard to complete phase one of the construction project.
“The new reuse and recycling centre will help to meet the need for household waste and recycling and kerbside collections well into the future and help us meet our climate and ecological goals.”
Phase two of the construction is due to be completed over the winter. This includes extensive buildings and yard areas to consolidate collections, disposal, and recycling processing operations and to accommodate highway winter services.
It will also provide a central depot for refuse and recycling collection vehicles alongside a fleet workshop and a public MoT centre. The offices, staff welfare and education facilities will also be fitted out.
The new site will feature green measures including solar panels on the roofs of the buildings to generate power for the hub, rainwater collection to be reused for vehicle washing and plant watering, and buildings constructed using energy efficient materials.
Pictured above (left to right) are Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council; Gerard McNamee, project manager, Farrans; Glenn Gilmore, regional director, Farrans; and Clare Taylor, contract manager at Farrans