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Council moves into important new phase of Household Recycling Centres reopening


By David Porter

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North-east residents are now being given the opportunity to make two bookings within seven days to access Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) and new items are also set to be accepted at the centres.

Aberdeenshire Recycling centres will see a phased reintroduction of almost full waste disposal in the next seven days.
Aberdeenshire Recycling centres will see a phased reintroduction of almost full waste disposal in the next seven days.

Following the tremendous success of the online booking system for its HRCs, Aberdeenshire Council is now moving through the phases of its return to ‘normal’ services.

With the process working so well, the twice-weekly trips for cars, pick-ups and car-derived vans carrying bagged general waste and garden waste have been introduced to further increase household access to an HRC.

You can make your booking at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/recyclingcentrebookings

For those who do not have access to a computer, telephone booking can be made by calling Aberdeenshire Council’s Wasteline on 03456 081207.

Meanwhile, from Wednesday June 10 cardboard and glass will be accepted and from Monday, June 15 this will be extended to all usual waste materials – including mixed recycling, bulky items, oils, wood and metal.

From June 15 the service will no longer require waste to be bagged.

However, please note that they cannot accept textiles at Inverurie, Huntly, Ellon and Westhill recycling centres at this stage as the contractor is unable to collect from these locations at present. These services will be reintroduced as soon as possible.

Residents will no longer be assigned to a bay, but are instead requested to take their materials into the correct skips while maintaining physical-distancing.

The number of people visiting a centre at the same time has been limited to make sure this is possible.

From June 22, booking slots will be available for vans and trailers to access the centres.

Residents should ensure they make a booking specifically for a van or trailer as they require more space than other vehicles.

Reuse containers at selected Household Recycling Centres remain closed at this time.

The rules on physical-distancing remain and only one adult should unload a vehicle unless two adults are needed for heavy items.

Staff will be unable to assist with any unloading and there will be no pedestrian access and no children will be permitted outside vehicles.

The decision to re-open some of the facilities has been taken in accordance with Government guidelines and is based on measures being put in place to protect both visitors and staff and the agreement of traffic management plans.

The Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) now in operation are Peterhead, Macduff, Fraserburgh, Ellon, Inverurie, Huntly, Turriff, Westhill, Banchory, Laurencekirk, Portlethen and Redcloak at Stonehaven.

Meanwhile, planning for the reopening of the smaller facilities at Insch and Portsoy continues.

Council waste manager Ros Baxter said: “Thanks to the new arrangements and the tremendous help and support of both residents and our staff, phase one of the reopening schedule has been an outstanding success.

“As we stressed from the start, that patience and understanding within our communities has enabled us to progress through the phases of reopening far quicker than planned, and allowed us to significantly increase the type of materials being accepted and the introduction of vans and trailers to our facilities.

“However, I would remind residents that the booking system is likely to remain in place as long as physical-distancing is required to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”

Aberdeenshire Council has also reintroduced its seasonal garden waste points for the summer.

They reopened on Saturday, June 6 with some new locations and opening times being introduced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

These sites are only to be used for grass clippings and small trimmings - not for larger trees and bushes which take up too much space.

From June 15, such items can be taken to one of the Household Recycling Centres.

The seasonal garden waste recycling points operate on Saturdays from June 6 to October 31 at:

Aboyne: Station Square car park, 8am to 12pm and 12.30pm to 3pm from June 6-27 and 12pm to 3pm from July 4 onwards

Alford: Transport Museum car park, 8am to 12pm and 12.30pm to 3pm

Ballater: Roads Depot, South Deeside Road, 8am to 12pm and 12.30pm to 3pm from June 6 to 27 and 8am to 11am from July 4 onwards

Balmedie: Leisure Centre car park, Eigie Road 1pm to 4pm

Blackburn: School car park, Fintray Road, 8am to 11am

Inverbervie: Beach Front Car Park, off Kirkburn, 12pm to 3pm

Kemnay: Birley Bush Council depot, 8am to 11am

Kintore: Midmill School car park, Carnie Road, 1pm to 4pm

Mintlaw: Aden Country Park, 8am to 12pm and 12.30pm to 3pm

Newmachar: The Axis Centre, School Road, 8am to 11am

Newtonhill: Bettridge Centre car park, 8am to 11.40am

Oldmeldrum: Academy bus car park, Colpy Road, 1pm to 4pm

St Cyrus: Ecclesgreig Road Car Park, 8am to 11am

For more information on the Household Recycling Centres which are open and their operating times, visit https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/release.aspx?newsID=5794


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