15 recycling centres in Essex will be reopened on Monday, 18th May.
Essex County Council is urging residents to be aware that when the recycling centres do open, new restrictions and strict social distancing controls will be in place to ensure the safety of residents and site staff. These restrictions will include limiting the number of cars on site at any one time.
This means when the recycling centres open, at the usual opening time of 9am, there will be very long queues to get on the site.
Recycling centres are open for waste or recycling which cannot be stored at home without causing a health and safety risk.
Residents are urged to use a common-sense judgement to decide if the household waste they have really needs to go to the recycling centre right now, or if it can be stored safely until recycling centres return to normal. If it does need to go to the recycling centre, residents must be aware there will be a long wait.
The safest way to get rid of your waste and recycling is using your kerbside collection. A visit to a recycling centre is only essential where there is no alternative available.
Any residents showing symptoms of COVID-19, self-isolating or shielding should not visit any recycling centre and should follow advice from Public Health England.
Cllr Simon Walsh, Essex County Council Cabinet member for Environment and Climate Change Action, said: “I am appealing for Essex residents to make a common-sense judgement – only visit a site if absolutely necessary. These are unprecedented times and we need you to help us.
“A number of recycling centres in Essex will reopen on Monday 18th May, however the priority remains the same - we must ensure the safety of residents and site staff, which is why a number of recycling centres are unable to reopen at this time.
“New restrictions and social distancing measures have been put in place before any recycling centre reopens and we have worked hard on the processes that needed to be agreed before this date could be announced. Only items that cannot be stored without causing a risk of injury, health or harm should be taken to a recycling centre.
“I must stress the importance of only making an essential visit when absolutely necessary.”
Which recycling centres are reopening?
Only recycling centres able to implement social distancing measures safely will be opened. These will be;
Braintree Recycling Centre
Brentwood Recycling Centre
Canvey Recycling Centre
Chelmsford Recycling Centre
Chigwell Recycling Centre
Clacton Recycling Centre
Harlow Recycling Centre
Maldon Recycling Centre
Mountnessing Recycling Centre
Pitsea Recycling Centre
Rayleigh Recycling Centre
Saffron Walden Recycling Centres
Shrub End Recycling Centre
South Woodham Ferrers Recycling Centre
Witham Recycling Centre
Advice for essential recycling centre visits
Where a visit to a recycling centre is essential please consider the following advice:
Recycling centre opening hours and site restrictions are subject to change and residents should check www.loveessex.org/newrules before visiting any site. Live updates on the situation will be available on Facebook at @loveessexuk