Efforts to tackle ‘huge demand’ as tips set to reopen

Recycling centres across the county will reopen tomorrow (Friday) for the first time in almost two months - but with a new booking system to avoid chaotic queues.

All 18 council-run tips in Kent and a further three in Medway have been closed since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak because of fears over the spread of the virus.

But in the face of much lobbying, and an apparent spike in fly-tipping across the county, the two local authorities have agreed to reinstate the service.

Users do, however, face a raft of new rules and social distancing measures to minimise any risks.

The biggest change is in the introduction of an online booking system - launched yesterday - allocating time slots to visitors to cope with what is expected to be “huge demand” for the service.

There will be four available; from 9am to 10.30am, 10.45am to 12pm, 12.15pm to 1pm, and 1.45pm to 3pm.

Visits will be limited to one per household in any four-week period to allow as many people as possible to have access to sites.

To reduce infection risk car windows should remain closed when showing proof of booking to staff.

Users should not try to book a visit if they have symptoms of Covid-19, are part of a household undertaking 14-day isolation or someone who is in the shielded category.

KCC Cabinet Member for Environment Cllr Susan Carey (Con) said: “I know how valued our waste and recycling sites are to the people of Kent and I am immeasurably proud of the work our waste team has put in to getting these sites reopened.

“The booking system, which was developed by Medway Council, is crucial to ensure we can keep visitor numbers at a level where social distancing can be maintained and minimise queuing.

“Our focus over the last few weeks has been in ensuring kerbside collections provided by district and borough councils continued, and our teams were redeployed to support those crews.

“Kerbside collections across Kent are now all, or about to be, fully reinstated by the districts and boroughs, including garden waste services.”

Medway Council has also set up an online booking system ahead of the reopening.

Demand for the service was so large yesterday that people were placed in a queue for up to three hours before booking opened at 11am.

Medway’s head of front line services, Cllr Phil Filmer, said: “We know there is demand for these much-appreciated and additional facilities to be reopened. However, it is essential that we do so in a way that keeps people safe and avoids customers having to wait in long queues. Implementing a booking only system is the best way to achieve this.”

Households can only book one visit per calendar month.

Book a slot at kent.gov.uk or queue-it.medway.gov.uk. Alternatively, call 03000 417373.