New £32 million household waste recycling centre opens in Walsall
The new household waste recycling centre (HWRC), located on Middlemore Lane in Aldridge, is designed to serve the borough for years to come and marks a major step forward in modernising Walsall’s waste services.
A dedicated reuse shop is also open on site, giving new life to items that might otherwise be thrown away. Furniture and household goods are repaired and upcycled in an on-site workshop before being sold at low cost.
For the first two weeks from 02 February 2026, the reuse shop will operate between 10am and 2pm on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From 16 February 2026, the shop will be open seven days a week.
The £32 million investment supports Walsall Council’s long-term 2040 vision to create a cleaner and greener borough. The new facility provides residents with easy-to-use, modern recycling infrastructure, including 38 different skips across 19 bays, enabling a wider range of materials, such as paints and hard plastics, to be recycled.
The site also includes a waste transfer station, where waste is sorted and prepared for onward transport to recycling and disposal facilities. The waste transfer station has been operational since Monday 05 January 2026 and plays a key role in improving efficiency and reducing the borough’s reliance on landfill.
The Middlemore Lane site is open to Walsall residents seven days a week. Proof of residence is required to use the facility.
Opening times are:
- Monday: 9am to 5pm
- Tuesday: 8am to 4pm
- Wednesday: 9am to 5pm
- Thursday: 10am to 6pm
- Friday: 9am to 5pm
- Saturday: 9am to 5pm
- Sunday: 9am to 5pm
Councillor Suky Samra, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene, said, “This project is a huge development for Walsall. I am so proud of what has been achieved and excited to see the benefits come to life.
“The site will prove vital in ensuring we can continue to accommodate the waste demands we face in the borough. Our current facilities have served us well, but now is the start of a new era, where we recycle and reuse more of our waste and make it easier for residents to do the right thing.
“We are not done here either, as plans to redevelop Fryers Road in Bloxwich are being worked on and will help us bring high quality waste services to residents in a convenient place.”
Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader, said, “I’ve been involved with this project from day one, even before the council purchased the site, and seeing the transformation from what was once waterlogged land into this impressive, state-of-the-art facility has been remarkable.
“This is a major investment in the future of the borough and a clear commitment to our cleaner and greener ambitions. Importantly, the site includes banks of solar panels that will generate renewable energy needed to power the facility, helping us deliver more sustainable waste services for Walsall residents.”
Sean Matty, Regional Manager at SUEZ, said, “We have been working with Walsall Council to operate their household waste recycling centres since 2014, and Middlemore Lane represents a significant step forward in the service being delivered to residents.
“What makes the facility stands out is the way reuse has been designed as a central part of the service, helping to keep valuable items in use for longer rather than going to waste. As the operator, our focus is on delivering a safe, efficient service from day one and continuing to support residents with a modern, reliable recycling and reuse facility.”
As part of the transition to the new site, Merchants Way household waste recycling centre, located approximately half a mile from Middlemore Lane, ceased operation on Sunday 01 February 2026.
Fryers Road household waste recycling centre in Bloxwich remains open to residents while plans for its future redevelopment are finalised, with further details to follow.