Recycling centre to get a revamp

A North Devon recycling centre is getting a revamp so it can speed up processing, have better facilities for staff, and improve pedestrian and vehicle movements.

The processing part of North Devon Council’s Brynsworthy Environment Centre at Roundswell near Barnstaple will be updated to make the recycling operation quicker and safer for contractors and meet the necessary fire prevention standards.

A new glass collection area zone will include a covered area and the textile bank will be relocated on the site. A modular building will be installed for operations staff, along with a new weighbridge.

North Devon Council (NDC) gave itself planning consent to make the changes which it says will enable it to increase the amount of recycling, leading to better recycling rates.

A report to the planning committee said the new layout for the recycling process hall and yard would allow council traffic to follow a safer one-way system, unloading in a managed order which will speed up the process and making the process safer.

External haulage companies will be removed from the NDC unloading area, “greatly reducing the risk of an accidental coming together with vehicles or pedestrians.”

The old baling system will be replaced with a larger system capable of separating and processing recycling materials faster.

The council said the development wouldn’t impact on neighbours because it is a good distance away and there are established landscaped boundaries.  Noise impact issues would be dealt with through ongoing management of the site.

Drainage will also be improved and a new footpath created.