250 jobs planned at Sandwell rubbish plant

More than 250 new jobs will be created at a new rubbish processing plant in Sandwell, the Express & Star can reveal.

Innovative Environmental Solutions wants to build the plant, which will include a 164ft chimney and turn waste into electricity, on land at Union Road in Oldbury. Plans have been submitted to Sandwell Council.

Construction of the plant is expected to create a further 200 temporary jobs.

Councillor Ian Jones, Sandwell Council's jobs and economy boss, welcomed news of the project today.

He said: "This is great news for the borough, particularly in such difficult economic times and the environmental impact will be measured in years to come."

Developers want to construct processing, storage and turbine buildings, and a conveyor belt to transport materials.

The plant would process 250,000 tons of "raw shredder residue", with 90,000 tons of metals, plastics and other materials being separated to go off site for further reprocessing. The remaining waste would be used to generate electricity.

One facility would operate for 20 hours Monday to Friday, the other 24 hours a day.

The development will create approximately 200 jobs during construction, a further 110 permanent jobs during operation and some 150 support jobs.

The company intends to hold an informal consultation event at the Meadows Sports College in Oldbury to discuss the plans with residents.

Report by Lisa Wright