Restrictions on using Clitheroe recycling centre due to ease

People will be able to visit in their car without first booking an appointment from Monday (July 6th).

From Friday, July 10th, people will again be able to use vans and trailers to carry their waste, however, they will have to book an appointment before visiting. The booking system for vans and trailers will go live on Monday, however the number of appointments available will be limited, and visits for vans and trailers will be limited to one per month.

A number of further restrictions on using the sites will remain in place for all visitors, and people are urged to check them before setting out.

The county council introduced a booking system when it reopened Household Waste Recycling Centres in May, after they had to be closed during the first phase of the coronavirus lockdown. The system has been very successful in managing demand, helping to avoid long queues, whilst ensuring people can visit safely and maintain social distancing.

While demand for appointments was very high over the first few weeks, it has now reduced to a level where people can visit in their car without booking first.

County Coun. Albert Atkinson, cabinet member for technical services, rural affairs and waste management, said: "I'm glad that we're able to lift some of the restrictions on how people can use our recycling centres. The appointment system has been very effective in ensuring people can bring their waste without having to join a long queue, and ensure our staff can direct them once they arrive while ensuring their experience of visiting is safe and stress-free.

"Managing demand was vital when we first reopened the sites as we knew that a lot of people had excess waste they wanted to dispose of which had built up while the sites were closed.

"The demand for bookings has now reduced to a level where from next week we no longer need people to book ahead if they're using their car.

"From the end of next week we'll again be accepting vans and trailers onto our sites. However because these vehicles can carry a lot more waste, which takes longer to deal with, we need anyone wishing to use a van or trailer to book an appointment.

"The virus has not gone away, and we are keeping in place all the other restrictions which were introduced when the sites reopened. It's therefore vital that everyone takes the time to check them before they visit.

"A condition of visiting is that people observe these restrictions and respect our staff, as we have a duty to protect them and will not tolerate any abuse or aggression towards them."

Further restrictions introduced when the sites reopened and will continue to apply are as follows:

• People will be asked to only bring one type of waste per visit. Visitors will not be able to walk freely around the site as they could previously. This is because the sites have been reconfigured to ensure social distancing, and visitors will be asked to drive up to the particular skip they need.

• People cannot bring construction and demolition waste, also known as inert waste, and plaster, plasterboard or asbestos, and the usual permit system allowing people to bring limited amounts of this waste will not be operating.

• People will need to carry their waste from their vehicle to the skip as staff will not be able to help.

• People must not visit if they have any symptoms of coronavirus or should be self-isolating.

You can check on the restrictions, and book an appointment if you need one, at www.lancashire.gov.uk/waste.