Congleton Recycling centre won’t be replaced when lease runs out in September

Cheshire East Council’s Cabinet has approved recommendations to procure a new contract for the running of the borough’s Household Waste Recycling Centres from 2023. The council currently runs eight household waste recycling centres (HWRC) for use by residentsand a public consultation on a range of proposed scenarios for the future shape of the HWRC contract was carried out in 2020. At a meeting of Cabinet today, councillors agreed to recommendations to procure a new contract and that while the process is being carried out, to not replace Congleton’s HWRC facility, once the council’s lease of the site is ended by the landowner later this year. In the new contract, the council is seeking to support its adopted corporate plan and environment and waste strategies, which aim to reduce the amount of waste produced, limit the impact on the environment and reduce carbon emissions. The council will also investigate the potential of providing a mobile ‘pop up’ household waste service to provide additional access to residents less able to easily access a permanent site. Frank Jordan, Cheshire East Council’s executive director for place, said: “The future running costs of our HWRCs are expected to rise significantly over the coming years and are likely to amount to much more than is currently budgeted for. “The aim of the review of the council’s HWRCs was to plan ahead for 2023 so that we can continue to enable residents to dispose of and recycle their waste responsibly, whilst balancing the financial pressures over coming years.” Congleton’s current HWRC is on a site that is leased by the council. Unfortunately, despite efforts to negotiate, the owner of the site has informed the council that they will not consider a renewal of the lease, which is due to come to an end in September. A further decision on the number and distribution of household waste recycling centres that will be operated from 2023 will be taken following market engagement, consultation and procurement exercises. Mr Jordan added: “Minimising waste in the first place is by far the best environmental and economic solution to tackling waste management. “We continue to encourage residents to play their part in protecting our planet by reducing the amount of waste they produce and reusing or recycling wherever they can.”