Opening hours at all Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are set to be extended from next week and the number of slots available to book throughout the day at each site also increased, Leeds City Council has confirmed.
From Monday 29 March 2021, each of the city’s eight HWRCs, including Holme Well Road in Middleton, will be open for a further two hours a day from 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. With social distancing restrictions continuing to be in place at each site due to coronavirus, and to ensure a safe and quick experience for customers and staff, residents are still required to book a slot for a visit at this current time. However, as a result of the extension in opening hours and an increase in booking slots at each site, the amount of slots available to residents will significantly increase by 80% to 3,600 a day (25,000 per week).
Residents can use Leeds HWRC sites to dispose of items such as garden waste and unwanted household items such as broken furniture/beds, electrical goods, white goods, mattresses and toys for free. To book a slot, or to find out more about our HWRCs please see: www.leeds.gov.uk/recycling
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for environment and active lifestyles, said:
“It is fantastic news that from next week, we will be able to extend the opening hours at each of our eight city HWRCs for an extra two hours per day and increase the number of slots available. This will mean there are 80% more visitor slots available per day which is extremely positive.
“The fact that we have been able to implement this change is a reflection of the continued dedication of our staff, who day-in, day-out, are working incredibly hard to ensure that the safety of customers and colleagues at all our sites is absolutely paramount. I would also like to pass on my thanks to the people of Leeds for their support and patience when visiting our HWRCs. Your assistance has been tremendous, and contributed massively to ensuring the changes implemented have been able to run smoothly. As a result Leeds has not seen the long queues and limits on types of waste that can be taken which have affected many other towns and cities.”
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds City Council
Following a significant effort by council staff this will increase the number of slots the public can book. These extended times will make a significant difference. Once restrictions end, the booking system will be reviewed.
Not keen on the booking system, sometimes having to wait a few days. Also, people should be able to walk in if they don’t have or don’t need to use a car.
Totally agree. Not everyone has a car
Hopefully the system of booking a slot at a recycling centre will continue myself and my neighbours find this a very useful service to book in advance , thank you
Is like to see the figures regarding free waste disposal v the cost of clearing up the fly tipping.
Perhaps a month trial of free disposal could be trialled. It would be interesting to see if fly tipping reduced during the same period.
I couldn’t agree more, Richard. Fly tipping is problematic to say the least in the area. I’m not condoning the act by any stretch of the imagination however if we assume fly-tipping will always be a “thing” would (for example) 2 trips to the tip in a standard Transit-style van per month free-of-charge be enough of an incentive to reduce the amount of offending?
There would obviously be an increased cost to the council however, the current cost of fly-tipping clear-ups and the enforcement of the law in this respect would undoubtedly dwarf any additional expenditure given that the infrastructure to deal with it in a contained waste site is already there – just an increase in volume. As you said, I’d like to see the figures too.
Plus, council tax has just gone up so it’s not like they don’t have a few spare bob to play with! [shameless dig!]