Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Politician backs calls to re-open recycling centres
IAN BUNTING
A Coatbridge politician has joined members of the public in calling for recycling centres in Monklands to re-open.
Refuse dumps in North and South Lanarkshire have been shut since the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown.
Central Scotland MSP Margaret Mitchell has highlighted how NFU Scotland has reported an increase in fly- tipping, particularly in rural areas, since the closures were enforced.
Travelling to a waste and recycling centre is not currently considered an essential journey by the government.
Ms Mitchell has written to environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham to ask her to add travelling to a waste and recycling centre to the list of essential journeys, which would enable local authorities to re-open waste facilities
Ms Mitchell said: “The Scottish Government must give local authorities the green light for the re-opening of refuse dumps, as has been done in England, to tackle the increase in fly-tipping and help households dispose of waste safely and sensibly.
“Local authorities are, of course, responsible for ensuring that these facilities can operate safely before they can reopen.
“However, in Central Scotland there has been reluctance by local authorities to open the centres because, at present, travelling to a waste and recycling centre is not considered an essential journey.
“I have written to Roseanna Cunningham MSP to ask her to add travelling to a waste and recycling centre to the list of essential journeys.
“This will provide local authorities with the reassurance they seek that opening their refuse facilities would not cause problems for members of the public travelling to these centres.”
Ms Mitchell’s appeal comes hot on the heels of more than 2300 people signing a petition demanding that North Lanarkshire Council opens recycling centres.
As reported in last week’s Advertiser, petition organiser Tom Daniels says that skip centres could operate safely if managed properly.
He added: “One member of staff could control vehicle entry, while another ensures the required social distancing as residents dispose of their waste.
“For us all to hoard general waste in our gardens or communal areas creates immediate health concerns for families, neighbours and communities.
“Fly- tipping has increased, with temporary dumps a ticking time bomb of disease and infection.
“We are all living with one crisis and don’t need another.
“As residents and taxpayers, we need North Lanarkshire Council to see common sense and re-open these centres.”
The council said it is only following national guidance on non- essential car journeys and social distancing.
A spokesman stated: “We can’t do anything that increases the risk of transmission. However, we are developing plans to re-open our household recycling centres quickly if the government guidance on essential journeys changes.”
The local authority also pointed out that it has continued to provide a full household waste collection service during the lockdown.