A NEW recycling facility has opened at Brighton railway station.

The new site will segregate, wash, compact, bale, weigh and electronically tag all waste from the station.

In line with National Recycling Week (September 20 to 26), the new initiative will aim to increase the station’s recycling rates to 95 per cent.

The unit, which is located on platform seven, will deal with waste from Brighton station, as well as all Southern and Thameslink trains running to and from the city.

The Mobile Segregation Unit (MSU) has been created in partnership with sustainability start up The Green Block.

The Argus: The new site will segregate, wash, compact, bale, weigh and electronically tag all waste from Brighton StationThe new site will segregate, wash, compact, bale, weigh and electronically tag all waste from Brighton Station

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern services, is aiming to increase Brighton station’s recycling rates from an average of 30 per cent over the last year to 95 per cent.

Currently 12 per cent of the total waste collected across GTR’s 800-mile network comes from Brighton. Prior to the pandemic, the station produced 650 tonnes of rubbish in an average year.

Since installation last month, the facility has processed over 32 tonnes of waste.

If rates remain at the same level, the initiative will recycle nearly 400 tonnes by September 2022.

The Argus: Donna Bryant, facilities soft services contract manager at Govia Thameslink Railway, said Brighton is a “prime location” for the new MSUDonna Bryant, facilities soft services contract manager at Govia Thameslink Railway, said Brighton is a “prime location” for the new MSU

Donna Bryant, facilities soft services contract manager at Govia Thameslink Railway, said Brighton is a “prime location” for the new MSU.

“A lot of the passengers who use the station are passionate and want to see an increase in our recycling,” she said.

“And it doesn’t cost anything more than the previous scheme.”

The new MSU in Brighton is the second of its kind on the UK rail network, with one installed at London Victoria by Network Rail in June 2020.

The Green Block client services manager Josh Katz said the waste at the new facility will be processed by hand.

“Two staff members will be based here during peak hours, but it has created 12 jobs for local people. And we pay above London living wage,” he said.

“The hub currently takes Brighton station’s waste only. The long-term plan would be to use the MSU as a hub and collect the other stations waste and bring it back to here.”

The Argus: Simon Greenfield, Brighton Station manager Simon Greenfield, Brighton Station manager

Brighton station manager Simon Greenfield also welcomed the arrival of the new facility.

“There’s nothing not to like about it. It’s just an add on to the station,” he said.

“If we can do this here, there’s no reason other stations can’t do the same.

GTR infrastructure director Keith Jipps said the new facility will be “one of several major sustainability successes across our network”.

Councillor Jamie Lloyd said the facility is already recycling 91 per cent of waste, and is aiming for even higher.

“It’s fantastic to see this facility in action and to see so much recycling happening here in Brighton station. I’m amazed at how small the footprint is.”

As part of its wider sustainability strategy, GTR is also installing 1,300 new cycle parking spaces to stations, developing 90 landscaping and rewilding projects and offering opportunities for local young people to gain horticulture qualifications through 18 station projects.