A proposal to permanently close Macmerry Recycling Centre has been approved at Tuesday's full meeting of East Lothian Council.
The facility has been mothballed since October 2023 due to the council’s financial position, with local residents instead able to use the more modern and accessible site at Kinwegar. The council also continues to operate recycling sites at North Berwick and Dunbar. All three sites are open seven days a week to receive a wide selection of materials.
As well as accessing one of East Lothian’s three operational recycling centres, residents can also contact the council to arrange a bulky waste uplift.
On reviewing operational requirements and associated costs for the site at Macmerry, officers recommended its permanent closure and that it is declared surplus to requirements.
In a challenging financial environment in which it is likely that there will be a requirement for East Lothian Council to continue making savings, the closure will result in a one-off saving of £53,000 and a recurring annual saving of £62,000.
Due to commercially confidential aspects in relation to requirements for the proposed disposal of the site, a report regarding the matter was considered by elected members in private.
Council Leader Norman Hampshire said:
“This was a very tough decision to take. East Lothian receives one of the lowest funding settlements per head of population in Scotland. With rising costs and less money available to us overall, the council has had to look at ways of reducing costs in the face of an extremely difficult financial climate.
“We are grateful to residents for their understanding since the site at Macmerry was mothballed. Although I know that many people would have preferred to see the recycling centre at Macmerry stay open, we continue to operate facilities elsewhere, in addition to our household uplift services including the weekly recycling collection service.
“We hope that the ultimate disposal of the site within the industrial estate will result in benefits for the local economy.”