Household Waste and Recycling Centres reopen on Tuesday 19 May
We (Cornwall Council) are finalising plans to reopen many of Cornwall’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres on Tuesday, 19 May but for safety reasons we will need to restrict how and when residents access the sites and the types of waste they can bring.
Rob Nolan, Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Protections, said: “Unfortunately, reopening the HWRCs is not as simple as just unlocking the gates and it has to be done in such a way that protects the safety and wellbeing of staff and the public. Each site is different and presents its own particular set of challenges. Therefore, we are introducing restrictions to ensure we can operate them safely.”
We have been putting together bespoke plans, including traffic management and social distancing systems, to protect the safety of site users and staff.
If we are not satisfied that a site is operating safely, or if traffic congestion is creating issues on the public roads, then facilities may be closed at short notice.
We are opening HWRCs for essential use only. This means using an HWRC only for general rubbish (black bag waste or bulky items) and garden waste that cannot be stored safely at home without risk of injury or harm to health.
Rob Nolan added: “Kerbside rubbish, recycling, garden and bulky waste collection services are all running as normal, so please check first to see if you can dispose of your waste by one of these services before going to an HWRC.”
As seen at other HWRCs across the country, we anticipate very long queues on reopening. To help alleviate some pressure we will be operating traffic management systems and restricting when you can visit an HWRC with a vehicle number plate system:
If the last digit of your number plate is ODD – 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 – then you may only visit an HWRC on an ODD date of the month, e.g. 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, or 29 May etc.
For example, if your license plate number is WL57 ABO, then the last digit is 7 – an odd number – so you may only visit an HWRC on an odd date of the month, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 May etc.
If the last digit of your vehicle number plate is an EVEN number – 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 – then you may only visit an HWRC on an EVEN date of the month, e.g. 20, 22, 24, 26 May etc.
For example, if your number plate is B398 EWP, the last digit is 8 – an even number – so you can only visit on an even date of the month. Even numbers include the number 0 (zero).
We will publish full details on the Council’s website later this week.
Please read all of the guidance on the website about visiting HWRCs during coronavirus restrictions before you set off or you may be turned away.
