Moray Waste Busters to open additional premises on Forres Enterprise Park

A popular social enterprise has permission to expand across town to divert more items from landfill.

Moray Council has granted permission to Waterford Road-based Moray Waste Busters (MWB) to change the use of Strathcona House call centre at Forres Enterprise Park to a re-use hub with facilities for sales, workshops and a café.

A comment in the planning application supporting the proposal explained: “The expansion is a great idea. Waste Busters do fantastic work in giving items second lives rather than going to landfill.

“It’s unfortunate that Elgin does not have a similar facility.”

As well as the sale of items diverted from landfill, Strathcona House will house community workshops, share and repair services, as well as educational activities rooms for other community groups and businesses.

The Waterford site will continue to operate as a collection, sorting and testing facility - only the sale of goods will move to Strathcona House.

The planning application states: “The scale of the proposal is such that it cannot be reasonably altered to be accommodated within the town centre.

“Waste Busters offer products to a market base who might not buy fully priced items, therefore this fills a gap in the market rather than competing with furniture or household goods stores.

“Some trade may be diverted from charity shops but Waste Busters appear to be an additional option for thrifters.”

It added: “The low cost of items may benefit the town centre by freeing up money for necessities or treats in the town centre.”

The local authority also focused on the new re-use hub helping to tackle the climate crisis by reusing an existing building and reducing the need for new items. Councillors pointed out that the proposal brings a vacant building back into use that has been marketed for years with no interest.

“The proposal allows for increased space for the sorting of goods for re-use at Waterford,” added the planning application response. “The new hub will also not adversely affect the surrounding area in terms of amenity and environmental impact.

“The proposal accords with policies of the National Planning Framework 4 and Moray Local Development Plan 2020 and there are no material considerations that indicate otherwise.”