Recycling plant reopened after £12m redevelopment

5 hours ago

George KingSuffolk

Carla Brian and Steve Cole, from Biffa, and Jez Blake, from Pack UK

Biffa A woman and two men wearing white hard hats and orange high-vis jackets. They are smiling and looking into the camera. — Carla Brian and Steve Cole, from Biffa, and Jez Blake, from Pack UK

A multi-million redevelopment of a waste facility will help "power a new era of recycling", a council said after announcing the work had been completed.

Biffa's Masons Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), in Great Blakenham, Suffolk, was transformed to support Suffolk County Council's new way of recycling rubbish.

The site can now process glass bottles and jars and tackle fires caused by discarded vapes and batteries, thanks to its new fire detection and suppression systems.

The authority said the completion of the £12m project would make recycling for residents in the county - as well as Braintree in Essex - "easier and more convenient".

Morgan Brobyn, cabinet member for food, waste and rural affairs, said the improvements would also "deliver environmental benefits".

"We have a duty to protect Suffolk's environment and ensure it can be enjoyed by future generations, this is an important part of that commitment," she said.

"We have transformed the Masons facility to support our new recycling collection system and help households recycle a wider range of materials closer to home."

The new-look complex was officially opened following a ribbon-cutting ceremony

Biffa A group of men and woman wearing orange hi-vis jackets and white hard hats standing in front of a large pile of rubbish and behind a red ribbon, which a man in the centre of the image is about to cut. — The new-look complex was officially opened following a ribbon-cutting ceremony

That new system is the Better Recycling kerbside recycling scheme, which started in June 2026 and sees more types of recyclable items, as well as food waste, collected.

"Residents are being asked to sort their waste differently, and the £12m refurbishment will help them do just that," said Steve Cole, managing director, at Biffa Municipal.

"The project is a significant investment in Suffolk's recycling infrastructure and will support the county's recycling needs for many years to come."

The facility had previously used to 100 conveyor belts to process around 285 tonnes of material every day

Suffolk County Council A recycling processing plant has two large conveyor belts carrying waste upwards. The belts are covered in paper and cardboard. Green metal pipes and railings are in the background. — The facility had previously used to 100 conveyor belts to process around 285 tonnes of material every day

Once fully operational, Masons MRF will process about 65,000 tonnes per year but has the capacity to process more.

In Suffolk, it will reduce the amount of waste sent to the Suffolk Energy-from-Waste facility which will help lower carbon emissions, the council added.

The project was funded through a £6m investment from Biffa and £6m from the government's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme.

Suffolk County Council allocated £5m of that EPR funding, while £1m was distributed by Braintree District Council.

Peter Schwier, cabinet member for operations and pride in place at Braintree District Council, said he was "proud" to have been a part of the project.

"By expanding the range of materials residents can recycle at home, we can reduce waste sent to non-recycling bins, preserve valuable resources, strengthen the circular economy, and deliver environmental benefits for our communities," he said.

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