Plans for new £50.5m recycling facility given green light in Hampshire

Plans to construct of a new, state of the art recycling facility have been given the green light.

The £50.5m Materials Recovery Facility, based in Eastleigh, will enable all households across Hampshire to recycle a wider range of materials including pots, tubs, trays, cartons, glass, metal, paper, cardboard and soft plastic film.

Hampshire currently has two MRFs in Alton and Portsmouth, but both present limited options for upgrades due to their age and size.

Hampshire County Council’s cabinet member for Universal Services Kirsty North said: “I receive regular questions about when and how a greater variety of materials will be able to be recycled more easily from home.

“Investing in this new facility represents a major milestone in what and how we recycle.”

She continued: “Currently we send a tiny proportion of waste to landfill in Hampshire, with the bulk either recycled or incinerated.

“Any waste we can divert from incineration is not only better for the environment, but also increases our recycling rate, costs less to dispose of and has a second life as a new product.

“It also helps ensure we maximise return for local taxpayers.”

The new facility is expected to be up and running by the end of 2027.

The new approach aligns with the Government’s Simpler Recycling guidance on separating dry materials from other residential kerbside recycling to reduce it becoming wet or stained.

The council expects managing waste in this way to minimise the cost of sorting the ‘contaminated’ materials — currently around £2m each year.

The proposal has been developed in conjunction with Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council, who will jointly fund the project.