Plans to reduce opening hours at recycling centres abandoned

Plans to reduce opening hours at four recycling centres in Hertfordshire have been abandoned by the new Liberal Democrat administration.

Yesterday's meeting on the Environment, Transport & Growthn Cabinet also decided that they will also not go ahead with the introduction of a demand management booking system across the county.

Both measures had been proposed by the previous Conservative administration before May's council council elections.

Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, Executive Member for Environment, Growth and Transport, announced that the council would look at new ways to make savings rather than going ahead with the planned proposals put forwards by the previous administration, to reduce the number of opening days from seven to five at Stevenage, Ware, Waterdale and Welwyn Garden City.

Recycling centres are well used and important to our residents, and there’s no doubt that a service like this supports our ambition to make our environment greener. That’s why we’ve made the decision to scrap the plans for reducing opening days at the four sites that are currently open every day. “We also know that when doing a DIY project or clearing garden waste, you don’t always know how long the job will last, so planning a time to take waste to the recycling centre or donate items to be sold in our Reuse shops just isn’t practical. That’s why we’ve halted proposals for a booking system too and will be looking at alternative options which we’ll share with our residents in due course.”

:: Cllr Zukowskyj

The initial proposal to introduce a demand management booking system and reduce opening days was put forward during the Full Council Budget meeting on 25 February this year.