BUILDING work on Thornbury's new household waste disposal site got underway this week.

The purpose-built Sort It centre on the former Dairy Crest site in Short Way on the town's Industrial Park will enable residents to take their bulky items of household waste for recycling or disposal.

The facility, set to open some time in late spring, is part of a 25-year waste management partnership between South Gloucestershire Council and waste operators SITA.

Cllr Shirley Potts, executive member for communities, said it would make it easier for local people to dispose of their rubbish in an environmentally friendly way.

"I would encourage everyone to do their bit and help the council and SITA reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by reducing, reusing and recycling," she said.

James Pike, general manager for SITA South Gloucestershire, said: "This new facility is a major improvement for residents in and around Thornbury and will help to recycle even more household rubbish. It's a major step forwards in our plan to provide South Gloucestershire residents with the best rubbish and recycling facilities in the region."

The centre - open seven days a week - will be the fourth facility of its kind in South Gloucestershire when it opens in the spring. It will cut round trip journeys to the tip by as much as 12 miles when compared with existing recycling sites at Yate or Stoke Gifford.