Sunderland City Council's story
The current Beach Street site is an ageing facility and is operating beyond capacity with no further scope for refurbishment. There is also increasing resident usage and therefore increased incidences of congestion at peak times.
It has around 40,000 visits annually and collects around 17,000 tonnes of plastic, wood, rubble, garden waste and redundant electrical appliances, such as white goods and televisions. About 60 per cent of all the waste that is delivered to Beach Street is recycled.
The new proposed Household Waste Recycling Centre at Pallion Industrial Estate will be larger than the facility at Beach Street. The split-level design will make it easier for householders to use the waste containers, with no steps to climb, and operationally it's possible to change over the waste containers without having to temporarily close the site.
The new facility will be more efficient, with better facilities and opportunities to recycle and re-use more waste materials. It is anticipated that the new site will help increase the amount of household waste recycled, reduce congestion and be more user friendly for residents.
The site will also include a purpose-built recycling/re-use shop. The shop, which will be situated on site will have its own car park and pedestrian access. Any re-usable items such as furniture, working electrical items, clothing, bikes, toys, books, CDs, bric-a-brac and other household items can be donated directly to the re-use shop, where donations can be sold at low prices and enjoyed by somebody else.
Useful Learnings from Sunderland City Council
Look at other areas of best practice before agreeing your design requirements and try to look at future proofing the facility, as well as looking at any innovative solutions.
It is key to work with future service providers in partnership to ensure that the facility meets all requirements.
Sunderland City Council's metrics
Recycling rates.
Number of items reused.
Carbon emissions saved.
Nitrous oxide emission saved.
Particulate matter reduced.
Number of people using the site.
