Based in Eastleigh, the new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is expected to be up and running by the end of 2027, and will support all households across the Hampshire region to recycle:
- a much wider range of plastics, including pots, tubs, trays, cartons, and soft plastic film
- glass
- metal
- paper and cardboard
Commenting on her decision to green light the investment, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Universal Services, Councillor Kirsty North said:
“I know residents are keen to do more, and I receive regular questions about when and how a greater variety of materials will be able to be recycled more easily from home. To help people recycle well and recycle better, we need the right processing facilities in place to make that happen. We also need to be better able to adapt to changes in consumer trends and what types of materials may need to be recycled in the future. Investing in this new facility represents a major milestone in what and how we recycle across Hampshire.
“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, creating less carbon, but also increases our recycling rate, costs less to dispose of, and has a second or third or fourth life as a new product. Importantly, it also helps ensure we maximise return for local taxpayers.”
The proposal to build a new £50.5 million Materials Recovery Facility has been developed in conjunction with Hampshire’s neighbouring waste disposal partners, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council, who will jointly fund the project ensuring a consistent service across the region.
The new approach being taken in Hampshire, aligns with Government’s Simpler Recycling guidance on residential kerbside recycling – separating dry materials from other waste to reduce contamination – which occurs when dry recyclable material, such as card, is unable to be recycled if it gets wet or stained with food residue or mixed with glass. Managing waste in this way will minimise the cost of sorting ‘contaminated’ materials (currently around £2 million every year) and ensure the recyclable materials, carefully sorted by Hampshire residents, can be put to be best possible use.