More Materials To Be Accepted At Household Waste Recycling Centres

24th July 2020

The Highland Council announced on Thursday 23 July 2020 additional materials will start to be accepted at many of the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) across the region and some opening times extended as part of the planned phased reopening.

Wood and scrap metal have now been added to the range of items that are accepted at the majority of facilities where the layout and size of the site allows. Items now accepted at most HWRC are bagged household waste, garden waste, electrical appliances (large & small), cardboard, wood and scrap metal. A number of smaller HWRC are still unable to accept all these items, so householders are advised to visit The Highland Council's website http://www.highland.gov.uk/recyclingcentres for materials that are accepted and to check for opening hours.

Some HWRC will also see their opening hours extended, making it more convenient for householders to use the sites with longer opening hours being offered. Alness, Dingwall and Tain HWRC opening hours are changing to 10:00am - 17:00pm (closed for lunch 13:00 - 13:30) Monday - Friday.

At the moment, cars and small non-commercial 4 x 4 vehicles only are permitted entry to the sites, enabling as many people as possible to pass through the sites and help to ensure that HWRC continue to operate smoothly and safely for both site users and staff. Vans and trailers are not permitted at this stage.

Councillor Allan Henderson, Chair of the Highland Council's Places and Communities Committee said, "I am pleased we are continuing to make steady progress with the HWRC for householders and by introducing more materials that can be accepted for recycling and extending the opening hours this is another step towards the ‘new normal'. Our larger sites remain busy and are safely handling hundreds of visitors per day with limited queuing. By accepting a wider range of materials, it is likely that site users will be on site for longer and therefore we may see queues forming at the site entrances as we continue to maintain social distancing for the public and site Operatives. To reduce the time spent on the site, householders are urged to separate their items before they go."

All HWRC across Scotland were closed in March due to the Scottish Governments COVID-19 restrictions on non – essential travel. The safe re-opening of many of the sites in Highland since 1st June 2020, has been achieved by limiting the number of users on sites whilst enabling control of social distancing.

Cllr Henderson added: "Preparation work is well underway to enable vans and trailers to use the facilities in due course whilst adhering to social distancing. To help manage demand and to avoid lengthy queues an online booking system is being developed for our larger sites whereby vans and trailer owners will be able to book a slot to use the facilities. Information about how the booking system will work will be provided in the coming weeks."

To help reduce the risk of spreading Coronavirus site staff will be adopting robust hygiene standards. Householders should wash their hands before and after visiting a HWRC. Please also observe social distancing and stay 2 metres apart from staff and other site users when at a HWRC. Householders are reminded not to visit the site if they are showing symptoms of Coronavirus.

Strictly no commercial waste or recycling will be accepted at HWRC.

For more information please visit: http://www.highland.gov.uk/recyclingcentres

PHOTO - Entrance to the Wick Recycling Centre