A new material recycling facility (MRF) serving Coventry and the wider region could be built in the city.
Coventry City Council’s Cabinet will consider plans for the development of a MRF that will serve Coventry, neighbouring authorities and regional businesses.
As Coventry City Council doesn’t produce enough waste on its own to make running such a facility viable, the proposed facility would be developed in partnership with five other local authorities.
Subject to their own political governance, these five local authorities are: Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Walsall Council.
The proposals are part of a report that will be considered at Cabinet on 27 August and then at Full Council on 3 September 2019 The report provides the Business Case for the development of the facility.
By opening this facility and taking greater control over the process, we can cut significant costs.
Councillor Patricia Hetherton, Cabinet Member for City Services, said: “The market for recyclable materials is very unpredictable, as a result the private sector is charging higher and higher prices for the treatment and disposal of the recycling that we collect from blue lidded bins. By opening this facility and taking greater control over the process, we can cut significant costs.
“We also anticipate that this facility will give us the opportunity to make the recycling process more efficient and environmentally friendly. The environment is top of the agenda at the moment – and this will have a very positive impact.
“The design of the facility will give us the flexibility to deal with changing demands. And in turn this will give us a chance to make sure the service is as efficient as it can be. So it really is a win, win. We also hope that this will eventually enable us to raise our recycling rates.”
Councillor John Mutton, Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, said: “We’re always looking for ways to deliver the same services in the most cost-effective way possible.
“This report shows that by opening this facility, the Council could potentially halve the amount we spend annually on the treatment of recyclable materials. So, from a purely financial point of view, investing in a Material Recycling Facility makes sense.”
