Household recycling centres to reopen with postcode permit system

Wiltshire's Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) will re-open on Monday, but with a dotty postcode lottery scheme which is guaranteed to cause maximum confusion.

For example if you live in Trowbridge and it's Tuesday 19th then you won't be able to use the local HRC, though it'll be open for people from various other parts of the county. If it's Friday 22nd then you would be allowed to use Trowbridge HRC ... except you can't because it's shut. Similarly for all the other towns and their tips. So Wiltshire residents needing to get rid of their stuff will be driving around the county attempting to match their postcode with an open tip.

So here's the deal:

1. Work out where you live and apply the postcode ready reckoner (pictured), to see if it's a day you can tip or not.

2. See if your local HRC is open or not.

3. If it's not either go to another tip or wait for another day.

And here's the official release from your WC:

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All of Wiltshire's household recycling centres (HRCs), bar Stanton St Quintin, will reopen on Monday 18 May with an easy to use postcode entry system to system to help limit the number of people on site at any time and ensure social distancing.

People will only be allowed entry to visit Wiltshire's HRCs on the days that correspond to the first part of their postcode. For example, if their postcode starts in BA12, they can only visit the sites on Monday 18 May, Wednesday 20 May, and so on, as detailed in the table on the council's website. People can visit any Wiltshire site they choose, so while people are limited by the days they can attend, they can visit any Wiltshire HRC on these days. Residents are reminded to check the opening times before setting off as all of the sites have different opening times. People may be asked to provide a proof of address in order to use the household recycling centre.

Journeys to HRCs should only be undertaken if waste or recycling cannot be stored at home safely or disposed of safely by other means, this includes kerbside recycling collections and the bulky waste collections service. Residents are able to leave additional recycling at the kerbside provided it is separated properly and placed in sturdy containers. People can find out more by visiting http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling.

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Waste, said: "It's important we do all we can to protect our staff and residents, which is why we have implemented this easy to use postcode scheme.

"People should only visit a household recycling centre on the days that correspond to the first part of their postcode, and even then, they can only dispose of waste that cannot be stored safely at home.

"There are several changes to opening hours and many other changes, so everyone should double check these before they set off for a household recycling centre."

Nine of Wiltshire's 10 HRCs will open from Monday 18 May, with Stanton St Quintin remaining closed until further notice, and several sites operating different hours until further notice.

To keep staff and residents safe, there are a significant number of changes in place to ensure social distancing at all HRCs. These changes include:

• Visitors must keep at least two metres from others at all times
• Only one person allowed on bin access steps at any one time
• Visits are restricted to one person per car
• No entry for trailers or large vans over 3.5 tonnes
• The number of parking spaces on each site will be significantly reduced, with vehicles allowed on site on a 'one in, one out' basis.
• There will be no pedestrian access
• HRCs cannot accept soil, rubble, plasterboard, textiles or asbestos during this initial reopening phase
• Don't bring recyclable materials that can be collected through the council's kerbside recycling collection service
• As we expect that sites will be much busier than normal, if you have a bulky items to depose of please consider using the council's Bulky Household Waste collection scheme instead http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/large-item-collection

For more details, and to find out more, people should read the FAQs at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/household-recycling-centres-reopening-faqs

Residents are reminded not to assume that an HRC is open before setting off. Please check the council website before making a journey to a HRC as opening hours will be changed when they reopen and may also be required to change due to issues that arise on site.

The site opening hours are as follows: