Household waste sites – what can I take and where can I queue?
Following our announcement that Kirklees household waste and recycling centres (HWRC) will reopen on 11 May, we’re working alongside site operator SUEZ recycling and recovery UK (SUEZ) to provide more information on how the temporary restrictions will work.
In line with government guidance, you should only visit a household waste site if your waste cannot be stored safely at home and no alternative disposal options are available.
What materials can I take to the household waste site?
In order to allow a managed flow of traffic and to maintain the required social distancing, most sites will only provide access to household waste and garden waste skips during this first phase of reopening.
Anna Bell, Regional Manager Suez Recycling and Recovery UK said:
“We are doing everything we can to make sure that the sites are safe, which includes the regular cleaning of public surfaces and making it as easy as possible to get from your car to the available banks without having to cross paths with someone else. This does mean we’ve had to reduce the banks available to use, but people will still be able to dispose of most materials.’
“Whilst some of our recycling banks and skips at the HWRCs will be unavailable, kerbside collections of waste and recycling from your home are continuing as normal.’
“However, during this phased reopening, any excess household waste or recycling taken to the HWRC can be put into the household waste skip and will be turned into energy at our energy from waste plant.”
What materials should I leave at home?
During this first phase of re-opening, there will be no facilities for disposing of:
- electrical equipment
- batteries
- fuel canisters
- fluorescent lighting
As before the HWRCs are unable to accept soil and rubble, and there are no appointments available for asbestos and plasterboard at this time.
The council will be discussing the social distancing arrangements with Suez on a daily basis to try and increase the services available at the sites over time.
How are you managing the queues?
From 11 May you’ll be able to check how long the queues are at each site on the website before setting off.
Traffic management officers will be on hand at each site to direct people to where they can queue and turn people around when the queue is at capacity.
There will be an overflow queue on Tenterfields at Dewsbury and on Alder Street in Huddersfield. However, as there are no safe places for additional queues at the other three sites they will be restricted to the immediate approach roads.
Check the maps for where to queue:
Bromley Farm, Upper Cumberworth
With regard to the environment, the council is asking people who are in the queue to consider turning off their engines if they are not moving, to both save fuel and reduce air pollution.
As the roads around the 5 household waste sites are likely to be incredibly busy other road users are encouraged to find alternative routes where possible. The council will be providing support to people who live on the approach roads so that they can still access their properties safely.
Advice from your Cabinet Members
Cllr Naheed Mather, Cabinet member for Greener Kirklees said:
“We’ve had to make significant changes to how we operate the sites to keep residents and staff safe. This isn’t business as usual and we are all learning new ways to do things in light of this terrible virus. Patience and understanding go a long way to making these changes easier, so please be kind to the staff on site and those who deal with our customer services on the phone and on social media. I would urge you to follow the advice on our website and only visit if you cannot safely store the waste at home. If you’re waste is causing you issues at home, but you can manage for a few days please consider letting the initial rush calm down before making a trip, and do check the website before you set off.”
Cllr Rob Walker, Cabinet Member for Environment said:
“Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the new rules for visiting these sites, it’s especially important that you come alone in your car, stay 2m apart and only bring items that you can carry on your own. Please don’t forget to wash your hands before and after your visit and please be kind, our staff are there to help you.”