Construction of a new recycling facility that will cut South Tyneside Council’s annual carbon emissions by hundreds of tonnes is now complete.

The £1.8 million transfer station has removed the need for waste to be delivered elsewhere prior to sorting, as was previously the case.

This will cut vehicle emissions by 400 tonnes and save 155,000 litres of fuel each year going forward.

The new facility will allow up to 20,000 tonnes of blue bin materials to be delivered locally and stored on site until there is enough for a bulk transfer to onward processors.

Councillor Ernest Gibson, visiting the Recycling Village at the Middlefields industrial estate in South Shields. Cllr Gibson said he hopes the new facility will help the borough council deliver on its promise to become carbon neutral by 2030.

placeholder image — Councillor Ernest Gibson, visiting the Recycling Village at the Middlefields industrial estate in South Shields. Cllr Gibson said he hopes the new facility will help the borough council deliver on its promise to become carbon neutral by 2030.

This will result in over 4,000 journeys being avoided and 120,000 fewer miles traveled.

The upper floor of the building will be used for dropping off and storing materials and the lower level will provide access to a loading bay for HGVs.

“It’s great to see this new facility finished and operational,” said Cllr Ernest Gibson, the council’s Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety.

“It is going to make a significant contribution towards our goal of becoming a carbon neutral council by 2030.

It is thought the new South Tyneside facility will cut vehicle emissions by 400 tonnes and save 155,000 litres of fuel annually

“It basically ‘cuts out the middleman’ and removes the need for unnecessary journeys, saving money, fuel, and most importantly hundreds of tonnes of carbon emissions.

“Already, less than one per cent of South Tyneside’s waste is sent to landfill but this new local transfer station will allow us to further reduce our impact on the environment.”

Solar panels, which will generate around 80,000 kW of electricity annually, have been installed in the roof of the new building, which was built by Hall Construction Services Ltd.

Previously, blue bin material was taken to Gateshead for sorting.

The new facility is capable of storing 10 days’ worth of collected waste and, having eliminated the need for it to be transported to Gateshead, will save an estimated £275,000 in running costs, as well as reducing additional contamination-related costs.

In July 2019, the council declared a climate emergency and pledged to take all necessary steps to make the authority carbon neutral by 2030.

It has since produced a comprehensive climate change strategy, supported by a five-year action plan.

Cllr Gibson added: “We’ve already significantly reduced the council’s overall carbon footprint and we want to build on that progress to meet the ambitious targets we’ve set ourselves.”