Opening hours to change at waste and recycling centres
Published Wednesday 5th May 10
The Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in the Wellingborough area will operate differently from 21 June 2010.
The opening hours of the sites at Wellingborough and Wollaston will change, and Wollaston will become the county's first recycling-only centre. The changes are being introduced by Northamptonshire County Council as part of a drive to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill.
Opening hours at the Wellingborough and Wollaston sites will be extended to 12 hours a day during the summer months (8am-8pm April to September) and 10 hours a day during the winter (8am-6pm October to March), but both sites will now be open for five days a week rather than seven.
The decision to extend the opening hours, and close the sites for two days a week, has been made in response to customer demand. Both sites will be open at weekends and the days either side (Monday and Friday), but will close mid week to reduce costs. Wellingborough will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Wollaston on Wednesdays and Thursdays. On those days, customers will be able to use the nearby sites at Ecton Lane or Rushden, which will be open seven days a week.
Other changes to the centres include the relocation of shops dedicated to selling reusable items that have come from the HWRCs. Customers will still be able to drop off their items for reuse at the centres, but the shops will be situated off site, at locations yet to be confirmed by the county council. The shops will be run by charities or small businesses and will free up space at the centres for a wider range of recyclables. There will also be a 'meet and greet' service at all HWRCs - an appointed person on site who will direct, advise and help customers as they arrive.
The Wollaston site will become the county's first waste-free recycling centre, with an emphasis on reuse, recycling, composting and wood recovery. No waste will be going to landfill from the Wollaston site and therefore they won't be accepting black bag waste or non-recyclable waste.
John Casserly, Head of Environmental Services at Wellingborough Council said: "The changes planned by the county council will help us move away from costly and hazardous landfill, and encourage more reusing and recycling. The extended opening hours will be a real benefit to people who are unable to get to the sites during the working day.
"We are keen to ensure that people are made fully aware of all the changes well in advance as we don't want an increase in flytipping. We are working closely with the county council to let people know about the changes so everyone is clear what waste they can take to where, and when. The changes to the HWRCs, along with the council's green and brown bin collections, bulky waste collections, and textile collections, have the potential to make a positive difference in how we all dispose of waste."