Recycling centres in some areas to re-open next week
RECYCLING tips in parts of South Wales will begin re-opening next week, under “modest” changes made to the nation’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Councils in Wales have been asked to start preparing for Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRC) and libraries to re-open following minor changes announced by the Welsh Government on Friday.
The closure of tips, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, prompted concerns over an increase in fly-tipping in some parts of the country.
Now, Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council has announced its recycling centres will reopen next Friday, May 22.
RCT council leader Andrew Morgan said social distancing measures would be in place, together with a strict limit on the number of vehicles allowed on sites at any one time – with people not allowed to leave their vehicle until they are on site.
Two temporary sites will be created for 10 days, and opening hours will be extended to 9am-7pm.
The number of lorries dealing with materials will be increased.
Cllr Morgan asked people to act responsibly and avoid rushing to the facilities when they reopen so they can maintain social distancing.
The move follows a slight relaxation to the lockdown, which led to some garden centres reopening on Monday morning.
Cardiff council said its tips would be reopening only after a number of conditions had been made.
A spokesperson said: “Councils in Wales have agreed together that they will need to have confidence in adequate staffing levels, health and safety compliance, and consultation with Trade Unions, before considering re-opening Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in local areas.
“On Friday, the First Minister confirmed plans to amend regulations to allow travel to recycling sites when they are eventually reopened in the future. While this regulation change enables councils to re-open sites, they are unlikely to re-open immediately as each local authority will use their discretion to decide if it is safe to do so in line with the situation in their area.
“Local councils will keep residents informed of any plans and timescales for re-opening facilities in each authority area.”
Recycling centres have remained closed since lockdown was introduced to minimise non-essential journeys.
The position in the Vale of Glamorgan echoed that of Cardiff.
Vale council leader Neil Moore said: “Consideration is already being given to how we could begin to reopen and reinstate some services that we have suspended in a safe way. This planning will continue but there will be no immediate changes to any of the measures currently in place.
“We are working with all councils across Wales to try and ensure that wherever possible when services, such as household waste recycling centres, are reopened they are reopened at the same time across Wales in a well-planned manner, so as to avoid confusion.
“It will, however, only be done when we are confident that services can be operated in line with government guidance in a way that ensures the safety of the public and staff alike.”
Similarly, Newport council said services would only re-open “when it is safe for customers and staff”.
A spokeswoman said: “Changes to services could also be made, including less customers accessing facilities at a time, changes to opening times and controlled or restricted access.
“Our aim is to reopen services as soon as possible, but only when it is safe for customers and staff, and with measures that will support the ongoing fight against Covid-19.”
Caerphilly council said “potential timescales” on re-opening HWRCs and libraries will be provided later this week.
A council spokesman said there will also be regional and national discussions “to explore whether a joined up approach can be adopted by local authorities to ensure consistency.”
“There are many factors that need to be carefully thought through before these facilities can safely operate and this will take time,” the spokesman said.
Blaenau Gwent council said the New Vale HWRC will only re-open when it can be done safely, adding that there will be “significant changes” to the site’s operation.
Centres in Monmouthshire could be ready to re-open next week, the county council’s chief executive has suggested.
Paul Matthews, Monmouthshire council’s chief executive, has told colleagues the move to open HWRCs is a “sensible step.”
In an email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Matthews told councillors and staff: “We will get ourselves in a position to open some of ours for next week albeit we have to have a heavily modified operation to keep everyone safe.”
A spokesman for the council said it is advancing plans to re-open the two largest waste centres in Llanfoist and Caldicot.
There will be limits on the number of people accessing the sites and the types of waste that can be brought there, with more details on the measures due to be announced on Wednesday.
But councillor Jane Pratt, cabinet member for infrastructure and neighbourhood services, said the council “cannot give a firm date to re-open yet because the Welsh Government needs to issue new guidance allowing a journey to a site to be seen as essential travel.”
Torfaen council has been contacted.