Approximately £1.7 million was invested to improve the facility, with funding support from Mid Ulster District Council and Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Household Waste Recycling Collaborative Change Programme.
The extensive investment at the recycling centre has transformed the facilities, enhancing the customer's experience, and will increase both the quantity and quality of recyclable materials collected on the site, diverting an anticipated 2,000 tonnes of additional material from landfill.
Chair of the Council, Councillor Córa Corry commented: "The completion of this £1.7m refurbishment at Magherafelt Recycling Centre is proof again of the Council's continued determination and commitment to invest in our services and to enhance the effectiveness and experience for our residents and customers. With these completed works, residents will have access to a bespoke state of the art recycling centre which will result in an increase in both the quantity and quality of recyclable materials collected on site. Health and safety at the site has also been enhanced through the segregation of site visitors from Council and contractor vehicles.
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"The refurbishment is another example of the Council's on-going investment in the effective collection and disposal of our waste, with the primary focus continuing to be the diversion of waste from landfill. I would like to thank DAERA for their substantial funding and for again working in partnership with the Council to bring such improvements to our district and for our residents."
Chair of the Council's Environment Committee, Councillor Sean McGuigan added: "For the duration of the refurbishment works at Magherafelt Recycling centre, temporary facilities on the site meant that residents could continue to use the centre safely and to dispose of as wide a range of materials as possible. I would like to thank all residents and businesses in the district, particularly those in the Magherafelt area for their continued patience and understanding while the works were ongoing over the last number of months. It has definitely been worth it when you look at the fantastic new facility we now have as a result."
Speaking at the official opening, Michael McCallion, Assistant Director of Environmental Policy at DAERA, said: "I am delighted to attend the official opening of Magherafelt Recycling Centre. DAERA provided grant funding of £945,898 towards this £1.7M redevelopment which is part of the Department's Household Waste Recycling Collaborative Change Programme and will mean approximately 2,000 tonnes of waste will be diverted from landfill each year.
"The money will also help improve how waste is separated and the quality of materials collected, to support local processors and our circular economy. We will continue to look for ways to collaborate with local councils and other stakeholders to reduce emissions from the waste management sector, ensure recycling rates remain high and to see ways of increasing the economic value of recycling in the economy."
Refurbishment works at the recycling centre began in April 2022 and it reopened to the public again on Wednesday 07 December 2022.
