Future for former Mayton Wood Recycling Centre unclear

Officers at Norfolk County Council say they are still considering what to do with the land at what used to be Mayton Wood Recycling Centre.

The county council controversially shut the recycling centre, near Coltishall, at the start of December, saying usage had dropped since the Norwich North Recycling Centre, off the Norwich Northern Distributor Road opened in 2021.

The council said shutting Mayton Wood would save the authority £70,000 each year.

The Conservative-controlled cabinet unanimously agreed to shut the tip in October, despite more than 90pc of the 900 people who took part in the authority's consultation over the closure saying it should stay open.

But it remains unclear what the future holds for the site, off Old Cromer Rd, Little Hautbois.

A council spokeswoman said: "The next step relates to the formal process around the surrender of the Environment Agency permit – this is likely to get underway early next year, this would also involve a site condition report.

"No decisions have been made on the future of the site. The future use or disposal of any land owned by the county council would follow the usual process."

Mayton Wood Recycling Centre has closed (Image: Antony Kelly)

Council bosses suggested people who had used the Mayton Wood tip could instead use the centres at Norwich North or Worstead, but critics said they feared it could lead to more people fly-tipping waste.

Meanwhile, from New Year's Eve, people will be able to get rid of a certain amount of DIY waste for free at the council's recycling centres - after the government ordered County Hall to scrap charges.

People can take a maximum of 100 litres of DIY waste or one single item with a maximum size of 200cm by 70cm by 75cm for free. The 100 litres must fit into two 50-litre bags.

The county council said each household is allowed four free visits with DIY waste every four weeks, but warned anything beyond this will still be charged at normal rates.