South Norfolk Zero Waste Ambition

Britain's first zero waste centre could be built in South Norfolk after council bosses signed an agreement to try to create the pioneering �7m facility.

The innovative centre, which could create up to 120 jobs, would be a place where people could take unwanted waste and get paid for it to be taken off their hands, while the items would then be sold to other people. That would reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill - help negate the need for controversial plants such as incinerators - and encourage more people to buy into the idea of recycling.

The idea of zero waste centres, also known as resource recovery parks, have taken off in the United States, with one of the most successful based in Berkeley, near San Francisco.

The Urban Ore centre there is an enormous warehouse spread over three acres, filled with everything from rows of toilets and window frames to retro furniture, toys, records and books. So far the concept has not transferred to the United Kingdom, but Lowestoft-based social enterprise Bright Green wants to replicate that idea in Norfolk.