Date set for reopening of Berkhamsted's Household Waste Recycling Centre

Ten Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC), including the site in Berkhamsted, will be reopening - with tight social distancing controls - from Monday, May 11.

The ten sites – Berkhamsted, Bishop’s Stortford, Harpenden, Letchworth, Potters Bar, Rickmansworth, Royston, Stevenage, Turnford and Waterdale – will open to allow residents, where essential, to dispose of waste that cannot be put in their normal recycling bins or safely stored at home, the sites will only be able to accept a limited range of materials.

Residents should only visit a HWRC if it is absolutely essential, for example if storing the waste at home represents a genuine health or safety risk. Anyone in self-isolation, or with COVID-19 symptoms, must not visit the HWRCs under any circumstances.

Terry Hone, Cabinet Member for Waste Management, said: “Although these sites are reopening, I would urge people to only visit if it’s genuinely essential.

"Most types of waste can be put in normal kerbside bins for collection, or stored safely at home, and this is a much better option at the moment.

"The social distancing measures we’re putting in place to protect our staff and the public mean that visits will take a lot longer than normal and we’re expecting very long queues.”

Just like in supermarkets, the HWRCs planned for reopening are being rearranged to ensure their safe use whilst also protecting site staff:

• Anyone in self-isolation, or with COVID-19 symptoms, must not visit the HWRCs under any circumstances.

• The centres will operate on a ‘one in, one out’ basis, with a limited number of vehicles allowed within the centre at any one time.

• Once in the centre visitors will be asked to follow identified pathways and queue, at a safe distance, to access each waste container.

• Staff will not be able to help you carry waste from your car to the containers.

• Site equipment, such as handrails and steps to access containers, will be regularly cleaned in line with public health advice.

• Hertfordshire County Council is asking for residents not to use large vans or trailers to help reduce queuing.

These measures are in place to protect residents and staff and must be followed. The council will close centres if an acceptable level of health and safety cannot be maintained.

For more details on site opening times and to check the queues on the live webcams, visit: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/hwrc.

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