COUNCILS PREPARE TO REOPEN TIPS
DATE ‘LIKELY’ TO COORDINATE WITH COUNTY SITES
PREPARATIONS are under way to reopen Leicester’s two rubbish and recycling centres which have been closed for more than a month because of the lockdown.
Managers at Leicester City Council shut the two tips they run, at Freemen’s Common and Gypsum Close, on March 24.
However, after neighbouring Leicestershire County Council revealed it would begin reopening its tips in the week starting May 18, the city council has issued an update on the situation.
While it has not identified a precise date for reopening Gypsum Close and Freemen’s Common, city officials have said it is “very likely” they will reopen for business in colections ordination with the county centres.
A city council spokesman said: “The temporary closure of our two recycling centres has helped us to ensure people’s safety and avoid any disruption to weekly kerbside collections due to potential staffing shortages. However, we are now preparing for their reopening.
“No decision has been made on the exact date, but it is very likely this will coordinate with the reopening of recycling sites in the county.
“We have successfully maintained our weekly waste and recycling colduring the coronavirus pandemic, and have also continued our green waste collection service.
“This means that people in the city have had the opportunity to get rid of their household waste and recycling every seven days as normal throughout the lockdown.
“It should also be remembered that trips to dispose of household waste during lockdown to date have not been considered essential travel.
“We await any new guidance around this from the Government.”
The Government is expected to update its guidance on tips reopening later this week when it unveils plans for a gradual easing of the lockdown.
It is certain that when tips do reopen there will have to be strict social distancing regimes in place to protect staff and visitors from infection.