£17m town rubbish plans unveiled

It is believed the centre will be built on Wrexham's industrial estate and run by Spanish-owned Waste Recycling Group.

The centre, part of a private funding initiative, has been given £40m funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.

That money will be paid over the next 25 years and it is thought it will go towards running costs.

The council claims the centre will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill sites, and will help it achieve its "landfill diversion" targets by 2013.

The scheme will go out to public consultation before going through council planning procedures.

If planning is approved, it is hoped the centre, which will cost around £17m to build, will open in 2009.

"This facility is essential for Wrexham to establish itself as a lead player in recycling"
Aled Roberts, council leader

It will include a state-of-the-art composting system.

Jim Meredith, chief executive of Waste Recycling Group, said: "We are fully focused on providing UK local authorities with the most appropriate waste treatment technologies and facilities, which are tried and tested to allow them to meet forthcoming challenging UK and EU targets."

Annually WRG receives, recycles and disposes of 13 million tonnes of household, commercial and industrial waste.

The company, owned by a Spanish construction and services group aims to generate energy from waste.

Council leader Aled Roberts said unveiling the plans was a "landmark" day for Wrexham.

He thanked residents for their recycling efforts, adding: "To move on even further we accept that residents can not do any more on their own and therefore this facility is essential for Wrexham to establish itself as a lead player in recycling."

Wrexham Council has faced opposition over some of its plans to dispose of household waste.

When proposals first emerged for a rubbish incinerator on the town's industrial estate, it provoked protests and thousands signed a petition.

The council also had to abandon controversial plans for a heat-treatment plant to deal with the town's rubbish.

There has also been a long-running row about Hafod quarry in Johnstown, Wrexham, being used to dump household rubbish by Merseyside waste company MWH Associates.

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