Fly-tipping ‘explosion’ feared over tip booking

A NEW booking system for Bristol’s rubbish tips could cause an “explosion in citywide fly-tipping”, a councillor fears.

Residents will have to book a slot before visiting household recycling centres from June 6.

This will replace the current vehicle registration plate system brought in during the pandemic to manage numbers and encourage social distancing.

It is feared that it could lead to an increase of fly-tipping in the city and neighbouring rural authorities such as North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

City council-owned Bristol Waste says the new way of working will reduce queues, waiting times and emissions from stationary traffic.

But Bishopsworth ward Tory Cllr Richard Eddy is concerned it will create inconvenience and see householders turned away if they are late to arrive because of traffic, with car-loads of rubbish being dumped by the roadside instead of taken back home.

He said: “Although the new Hartcliffe Way household recycling centre is opening later this summer I truly fear this ill-thought-out booking system will lead to an explosion in citywide fly-tipping.”

He said the council’s “fanfare of extravagant claims” about the benefits of the new system should be treated with caution because it could make life more difficult for residents.

“Immediately following the lifting of previous Covid lockdowns, clearly it was necessary to ration access to the council’s household recycling facilities and an alternating car-registration system worked as an emergency solution,” opposition Cllr Eddy said.

“However, as the country gradually emerges from the pandemic, the imposition of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ booking system seems excessively bureaucratic and is likely to lead to impersonal inconvenience for Bristolians.

“Surely their views should have been considered first before the council and Bristol Waste plumped for this new automated booking system.”

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “The booking system launching on May 23 will help manage the heavy demand on the city’s household reuse and recycling centres.

“It will reduce queues, drive down emissions from queuing vehicles, ensure a smoother on-site experience and prevent any unnecessary journeys”

“It’s quick and simple to use, and enables residents to book up to two weeks or as little as one hour in advance.”

It said similar systems are in place in areas such as Gloucestershire and Swindon.