First step towards big new recycling centres for Wymondham and Sheringham

Plans for bigger and better recycling centres for Wymondham and Sheringham are set to get a boost next week as councillors discuss proposals for new sites for the growing towns and surrounding areas.

Both the current locations are too small to allow for the expansion that's needed for the future. A move to new sites would allow improved access to the sites with more parking available, smoother traffic flows, and better recycling facilities including the opening of reuse shops on site.

Cllr Andy Grant, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, said: "This is an important first step towards our goal of bringing better recycling centres to the communities in and around Sheringham and Wymondham. Sadly we've now outgrown the old sites so I'm pleased that we're seeing good progress being made in identifying these potential locations for bigger and better recycling centres. It's great that the bigger sites would allow us to open reuse shops, which have proven very popular at our other recycling centres, and help stop good quality second hand items being thrown away."

If members agree to go ahead with the proposals the necessary planning and permitting processes could get underway later this year. A first step would be to provide opportunities for local communities to help shape the plans for the new recycling centres.

A move for the Wymondham recycling centre to a new site, next to an existing highways depot just off the A11 near Spooner Row, would allow much improved access, as the current site at Strayground Lane is down a single-track road which can get congested particularly at busy times. Sheringham recycling centre, that's just off the A148 Holt Road near the town, could be relocated to a new, larger site across the road from the current site. Both new sites would allow for the centres to remain open while the bins are emptied, thanks to a separate operational area.

County council cabinet members will discuss this topic when they meet on Monday 31 January. See the cabinet meeting papers.

Further information

The stage that the County Council is at now, which is site selection, is a very early part of the process, and to help get things right the next steps will involve consultations with customers and the public, developing a final design, and then asking for permission to build and operate the new sites - with both those two process also involving public consultations. To do all that properly does take time and following that the new recycling centres would have to be built, so allowing for all that means the new recycling centres could be open approximately two years from now.

Other recycling centre improvements

• Norfolk has been expanding its network of reuse shops with 14 now at recycling centres across the county. The reuse shop soon to open at the new Norwich North recycling centre will be the largest in the county.
• The Norwich North and Norwich South recycling centres both opened in 2021 providing improved facilities for the growing Greater Norwich area. They replaced the former smaller sites at Mile Cross and Ketteringham.
• It is hoped to make improvements to the site at Morningthorpe (near Long Stratton) to increase the size of this site, or relocate it, to improve recycling and access onto this popular recycling centre