- Veolia, Birmingham City Council’s waste treatment partner, has redeveloped the Household Recycling Centre in Tyseley to help boost the city’s circular economy.
- With the new school year underway, Veolia and the Council announce the reopening of the Reuse Shop and the launch of a new educational Discovery Centre for visitors.
Veolia delivers waste treatment and recycling services on behalf of Birmingham City Council, operating five Recycling Centres across the city. Tyseley Recycling Centre, one of the busiest sites, has been redesigned to offer an engaging and educational reuse experience that brings sustainability to life for schoolchildren and community groups.
A new Discovery Centre has been introduced to the site, where visitors can expect to learn about the waste hierarchy and the environment. Interactive elements feature a Sustainable Energy Zone with a working heat pump installation to show renewable energy in action.
Fashion pieces and a sculpture made from upcycled materials created by local artists Ildiko Nagy and Rukhsana Sardar, and Birmingham City University fashion students, are exhibited at the Centre to highlight the creative potential of waste materials.
Veolia’s dedicated Education, Communications, and Outreach Team manages the Discovery Centre and engages directly with Birmingham’s residents, schools, and community groups to support environmental education and increase recycling rates in the area. Veolia is actively inviting schools and community groups to book educational visits, guided tours, and interactive activities, which are tailored to different age groups. Bookings can be made via birmingham.veolia.co.uk/birminghamdiscoverycentre.
The reimagined on-site Reuse Shop is now positioned towards the front of the Household Recycling Centre to encourage visitors to consider reuse ahead of dropping off items for recycling. This means that when coming to the site, residents are able to drop items off and pick up their next sustainable bargain at the same time.
The shop is operated by Community Reuse and is open from 9:30am to 4:30pm every day. Buying secondhand supports the circular economy by extending the lifespan of items and diverting them from the waste stream, saving energy required in the manufacturing of new materials.
Donald Macphail, Chief Operating Officer - UK Treatment at Veolia, said:
“The redeveloped Tyseley Recycling Centre reflects our commitment to innovation, environmental education and a sustainable future for all. The Reuse Shop is open to the community now and we look forward to welcoming recycling enthusiasts of all ages.
“By making sustainability tangible and engaging through the Discovery Centre and the on-site Reuse Shop, we hope to empower residents to contribute to the circular economy in their everyday lives.”
At the opening ceremony, Councillor Harris Khaliq, Cabinet Member for City Operations and Digital at Birmingham City Council, said:
"The new Discovery Centre and enhanced Reuse Shop at Tyseley are excellent examples of how we can help residents make more sustainable choices while learning about the importance of reducing waste and protecting our environment.
“Every day, thousands of tonnes of waste are collected across our city. Most people only see what happens when their bin is emptied, but this centre gives residents, schools and community groups the chance to understand the journey afterwards and, more importantly, how each of us can reduce waste in the first place.
“My commitment as Cabinet Member is to keep Birmingham clean not just through waste collections, but by preventing waste, improving recycling and giving residents the knowledge and confidence to be part of the solution. This Discovery Centre is an important step on that journey, helping people understand how small changes at home can make a big difference across our city.
“We are pleased to continue working with Veolia to provide facilities that benefit local communities, support a circular economy and inspire the next generation to play their part in creating a more sustainable future."
