After ten years and millions of pounds, South Bristol finally has its own household recycling centre - with a new council facility opening in Bedminster today.
The South Bristol Reuse and Recycling Centre will be officially opened this morning (Tuesday, June 21) by Mayor Marvin Rees and Bristolian actor and local resident Joe Sims.
The multi-million project was stalled several times during the 2010s, and has since been delayed numerous times, but will finally get its first load of household recycling this morning.
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Bristol Waste said the new facility, off Hartcliffe Way in Bedminster, will be a 'state of the art site', and will offer access for people walking and cycling to it, as well as as driving, and there's also a free bike trailer loan available for anyone wanting to bring heavy stuff by bicycle instead of cars.
The site also boasts a 'mega bug hotel sculpture', to provide a haven for wildlife, and a reuse centre which will salvage as many items as possible to repair and reuse or repurpose them on the spot, to avoid them ending up being recycled in the first place.
The recycling centre will be Bristol's third 'tip', to add to the ones already in Avonmouth and St Phillips. It was first mooted back in the early 2010s, and Bristol City Council put aside £2 million to create it in 2012. The scheme was included as part of Bristol's European Green Capital bid, but in the end never happened because then Mayor George Ferguson shelved the idea saying the council couldn't afford the running costs after it was built.
Marvin Rees included restoring the project from the waste bin into the 'to-do' list as part of his election campaign in 2016, and the idea of a new recycling centre was included in the council's waste strategy but still didn't happen for a few more years. In the end, a petition from residents in South Bristol calling for it to happen sparked some life in the project, and in 2020 it eventually won permission and got council funding.
An opening date was scheduled for 2021, and then early 2022. but there were yet more delays - until today (Tuesday) when it finally opens its gates for the first time. Both Marvin Rees and Joe Sims brought along some recycling to dump at the centre, but anyone who wants to follow them will have to book - the centre, along with the other two in Bristol, is now included in the recent switch from a number plate system to a booking in advance system.
Inside the gates, the centre includes a covered unloading area and a one-way traffic system which Bristol Waste said will enable residents to 'safely sort their items into easily accessible, dedicated bins, making it easier and more convenient for everyone to recycle their household waste'.
"The centre is also home to one of the largest Reuse Shops and workshops in the region; selling and repairing good quality, pre-loved items that might otherwise have gone to waste," the spokesperson added. "Redirecting reusable items from disposal, saves valuable resources, reduces costs and helps Bristol reach its ambitious recycling targets. Profits from the sale of reusable items are reinvested in waste reduction schemes, as well as supporting local charities. Popular items for sale include televisions, paint, furniture and other electrical items," she said.
The Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees brought some recycling to recycle, and said the opening of Bristol's third recycling centre was a 'fantastic moment for the city'.
“This is a fantastic moment for the city," he said. "The opening of the brand-new household recycling centre on Hartcliffe Way is going to make recycling easier and more convenient for people living in the area, which we hope will encourage residents to recycle more. A local site will also minimize the amount people in the south of Bristol will have to travel which will also have huge benefits for the environment.
“Part of our commitment to making Bristol cleaner and greener is further reducing the amount of waste that is sent to landfill, and this centre will help us to achieve this goal by supporting people to recycle, repair and reuse – giving pre-loved items a second life," he added.
The new site will be open seven days a week, 8am – 6:45pm (summer hours). The booking system means anyone popping down there will have to log on and book ahead - you can book from between one hour and two weeks in advance, by visiting the booking website here, or for those without access to the internet, by calling 0117 922 2100, Mon – Fri between 8.30am and 6pm, with the phone line closed between noon and 1.30pm on Wednesday. People coming on foot or by bike don't need to book.
A specially commissioned, large-scale bug hotel in the shape of a recycling logo has been installed on the site. Made by local scenic sculptor Johnny Mann, the sculpture not only signifies the site’s commitment to the environment, but will also help encourage native wildlife and flowers to repopulate the banks surrounding the centre.
The first visitors, including the Mayor, Councillor Kye Dudd, Cabinet Member with responsibility for waste, Joe Simms and Bristol Waste Managing director, Tony Lawless, will all be invited to throw wildflower seed bombs to help the muddy banks become wildflower meadows, supporting local insect populations.
“Delivering a project of this scale, and of such importance to the sustainability of our city has been incredibly rewarding and challenging," said Bristol Waste's managing director, Tony Lawless. "The pandemic made us value our precious resources more. It highlighted the need to waste less and recycle more in our own homes and beyond. This new site will provide a solid infrastructure for the south of our city to lead the way to a more sustainable future.
“The recycling centre will help save valuable resources, offer low-cost household items to local residents and help us reach our ambitious recycling targets," he added.
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