Having previously shut its Acton Re-use and Recycling Centre on Stirling Road, Ealing Council has announced it is to re-open it as a circular economy recycling centre with facilities to re-use and repair on site.
The move comes as Ealing Council admitted that since shutting Acton and telling residents to use Greenford waste and recycling centre, Greenford “is already over capacity”.
In a statement, Ealing Council said: “Bringing together inspiring organisations and charities, Ealing Council and West London Waste Authority are transforming an old waste site at Stirling Road into a space for residents to repair, reuse and recycle electronics, bicycles, furniture, clothes and lots more.
“With classes and community sessions and events, residents will also be able to learn skills to help live more sustainably, improve wellbeing, mental health and employment opportunities.
“Residents will be able to donate or buy refurbished furniture, electronic goods and household appliances, as well as pick up food otherwise destined to go to waste. There will be even opportunities for volunteering, work placements and apprenticeships, creating a healthier local economy.”
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action said: “We are really excited to be able to re-open the old Acton waste depot and to announce that Ealing will be home to the very first circular economy space of its kind in the capital.”
Councillor Costigan added: “We already have a top-quality waste collection service and we are consistently in the top three in London when it comes to rates of recycling. But we need to go to the next level – we need to avoid waste in the first place and the new Acton site will hugely increase opportunities for residents to re-use, repair and recycle.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats said: “Lib Dems say the Council closed the Acton tip to save money, then sale fell through to sell the land causing lots of unnecessary flytips and now Labour are trying to reinvent themselves. They should have discussed this earlier rather than trying to present it as a win when they initially failed by closing it.”
Councillor Julian Gallant, leader of Ealing Conservatives said: “It’s welcome news that the Stirling Road recycling centre is to re-open. Why we had to go through a closure which was bitterly contested and opposed by thousands of residents, is just unfathomable. You think of those specious arguments about how one site at Greenford was more than ample provision for a Borough as big as Ealing. Well, it clearly wasn’t. And Labour cannot pretend that this is happening for any other reason than they they failed to find a buyer for the land. This is not the transparency we were promised.”
