Appointment needed to access waste tips when re-opened

CARDIFFIANS will have to book an appointment online to use the city’s tips when they re-open.

Cardiff Council has revealed its plans to re-open its household waste recycling centres at Lamby Way and Bessemer Close “as soon as it is safe”.

But when they do, people will have to book a slot online before they can visit one of the tips.

The council says detailed assessments are being carried out to ensure that both of the sites can operate with social distancing measures in place to ensure the safety of residents and staff.

It says the booking system will ensure that the council can manage access to both the tips more easily, reducing any traffic build-up.

Anyone without an appointment will not be able to gain access.

Lamby Way is an operational depot so the council says it is essential that there isn’t a build-up of traffic on Rover Way, which is the main route to the site.

If there is excessive traffic, waste collection vehicles will not be able to access the site and the council says this will significantly impact kerbside collections.

Michael Michael, the council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “I’m sure everyone understands that the safety of residents and staff has to be our first consideration.

“Due to the current circumstances, unfortunately, we can’t just open up these facilities and operate them as we did before the lockdown was introduced.

“We have carried out a detailed health and safety risk assessment, and an equality impact assessment, which makes clear the sites have to be re-modelled to ensure a two-metre distance can be maintained between residents and our staff at all times.

“We will also have less skips available at the sites, so restrictions may have to be put in place on what waste types can be brought to the HWRC’s in the first instance.

“All of this detail is being worked through at the moment and I would like to reassure residents that we are working hard to open them as soon as we can and as soon as we are confident they can be operated safely.

“Everyone’s safety is our paramount concern.”

“There is no doubt that we have to bring in an online booking system to manage traffic flow, especially for Lamby Way.

“Further information on how this will operate and when these facilities will re-open will be released after we are confident that the new arrangements that we are putting in place work effectively and are safe for everyone.”