A MULTI-MILLION pound recycling facility could be built in east Hull.
Recycling and renewable energy company FCC Environment want to develop the existing waste management site at Wilmington, off Stoneferry Road.
The proposal would see a new state-of-the-art materials recycling facility to sort recyclable material on site before being transported to manufacturers in East Yorkshire who can use it to make new products.
At present, all the recyclable rubbish collected in the city's blue bins, such as plastics, metals and cardboard, are sent long distances by road for recycling in Manchester and north Wales.
Senior planning and estates manager at FCC Environment Chris Ratcliffe said: "We already have a waste transfer station at the site but we have to transport the material to be sorted.
"This facility will not change the amount of waste or recyclables coming to the site, only that the material will be sorted for recycling on site rather than being transported long distances.
"This facility will create five jobs to run it and more to maintain it.
"But it will also provide investment back into Hull and benefit the economy."
FCC Environment, which employs 2,400 people and operates more than 200 facilities across England, Scotland and Wales, held a public exhibition on Friday to show nearby residents the plans and receive feedback before a planning application is submitted.
People could view the plans at the Club House in Elm Avenue, Garden Village.
Mr Ratcliffe said: "We're keen to involve local communities in the planning process.
"We wanted to hear their views before we submit any planning application.
"We had a number of people attend the exhibition and the feedback has been good.
"Quite a few said they are all for it. But there have been some concerns about noise, air quality and traffic.
"There will be no increase in traffic as the same amount of rubbish will arrive and leave on site.
"Also, we are only dealing with dry goods. There will be no food items and the material will not be treated with chemicals. It will simply be sorted mechanically."
The proposed facility will be housed within a new building on the same site and will separate up to 60,000 tonnes of mixed dry recyclable material per year, the majority of which is already delivered to the site by Hull City and East Riding councils.
An application is likely to go before Hull City Council's planning committee before Christmas and, if the plans are given the go ahead, the facility should be up and running by April 2014.
