Recycling hub that cost nearly £42m officially opened

The hub, seen in an artist's impression, takes household recycling but is also where waste can be sorted

A £42m recycling hub in Keynsham has been officially opened by Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Its where people can bring their recycling but also where household collections are taken, and where different materials can be sorted.

The last part to be finished was the operations area for more than 100 recycling vehicles, and where 200 staff are now based.

The hub also includes a store for salt and grit that can be used on roads between Keynsham and Bath in icy conditions.

The leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council Kevin Guy with cabinet members Sarah Moore and Tim Ball

Speaking at the opening, Bath and North East Somerset Council cabinet member Tim Ball said that by bringing together the collection, disposal and processing of recycling they will be able to "reduce general waste and operational costs and meet future demand from an increasing population".

The section where people can bring their waste has been open since last autumn, along with a reuse shop that sells items brought to the centre.

The council's vehicles are all serviced on site at an MOT centre which is also open to the public.

In a statement the council also confirmed that the public recycling centre in Midland Road in Bath is still open and will remain so until an alternative site is found.