Public urged to use recycling centres responsibly or face closures

The county's household waste recycling centres were extremely busy over the weekend, coinciding with a spell of fine weather, with some sites having to temporarily close at times while skips were changed.

Garstang household waste recycling centre closed from Sunday until further notice due to staffing issues related to coronavirus.

Anyone visiting the recycling centres is also advised that site staff have been instructed not to help people carry items to the skips in order to observe social distancing.

County Coun. Geoff Driver CBE, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: "We want to keep providing the recycling sites, however it's extremely concerning that the way they were being used this weekend clearly went against the vital government advice on social distancing to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

"We also had some reports of people being abusive towards recycling centre staff because the sites were so busy.

"I understand that people may have been frustrated at having to wait while skips were changed, however this type of behaviour is entirely unacceptable. Beyond this, our overwhelming concern is that visitors were putting their own and staff welfare at risk by the way they were using the service, due to not social distancing."

More information can be found at www.lancashire.gov.uk