NEW opening hours will come into force at tips across Herefordshire next month.

From October 1, all of Herefordshire's household recycling sites will close at 4pm on the days they are open, except for Ledbury which remains unchanged.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said during the winter months when there are fewer daylight hours, public use of the sites decreases, in part due to less garden waste being brought in, and traffic surveys confirm that there is least demand from 4pm onwards each day.

The new hours will increase efficiency across our sites and lead to better management of demand, which has allowed us to already open the Ross-on-Wye centre for an additional day each week.

It is important that residents continue to book slots to visit a Household Recycling Centre where required. This can be done online or, for those unable to book online, by contacting the Herefordshire Council customer services team on 01432 260051, who will book a slot for you.

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The household recycling centres are only open to Herefordshire residents, and the booking system is in place to ensure the safety of staff by controlling numbers of visitors and prevent queues at sites. Up to four slots can be booked every two weeks and you will receive a pass before visiting. An address and vehicle registration number are needed to secure the booking.

Coun Gemma Davies, Cabinet member for commissioning, procurement and assets, said: “Thank you for all of your patience during the past few months in our recycling centres and the number of changes that have taken place. During the winter months, the number of people visiting our Household Recycling Centres naturally decreases as people have less waste to dispose of and tend to visit earlier in the day. Closing our centres a little bit earlier means we can operate more effectively across the county.

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“We ask that people continue to book online or over the phone because the booking system is a vital way of avoiding congestion and ensuring our sites remain safe and comply with the necessary guidelines. Most importantly, please remember that anyone who is self-isolating or has Covid-19 symptoms must not visit a household recycling centre.”