Recycling Centres

Editors note: Your guess is as good as mine

Re-opening of recycling centres

All recycling centres (with the exception of Crowndale in Tavistock and Punchbowl in Crediton – see details below) will re-open from Monday 11 May 2020 for essential use only. 

Essential use applies only to waste or recycling that could not be stored safely at home without causing a risk of injury, health or harm to the resident or other members of their household and cannot be legally and responsibly disposed of in other ways.

Government have advised that each individual householder will need to decide whether their waste can or cannot be stored safely at home for now and whether their journey is essential and we cannot advise on specific examples.

Government guidance states that the public should stay at home or only make trips where absolutely necessary. Wherever possible, waste should be stored at home, other disposal routes utilised, for example, skip or hippo bag hire, or activities that generate waste be avoided.

A series of health protection and social distancing measures will be in force. These measures are likely to cause significant delays and queues and residents are advised to postpone their visit where possible.

The following measures will apply:

• Vehicle numbers on site at any time will be significantly restricted.
• In order to keep unloading times to a minimum, only cars will be permitted to use the recycling centres (no trailers/vans/campervans/pick-ups etc.) with a maximum of two adults per vehicle.
• You should stay 2 metres apart from other people (including site staff) at all times.
• Social distancing measures mean that site staff will not be able to help with unloading/carrying waste and you must follow site staff instructions to keep everyone safe.
• Remain in your vehicle whilst queuing (with windows closed) and do not queue on the public highway.
• Payments on site will be accepted by credit or debit card only.
• Resale/Shop facilities will remain closed.
• Glass, paper, cans, plastic bottles/packaging will not be accepted – please use kerbside recycling systems and banks provided by your district council.
• Residents showing COVID-19 symptoms or who are self-isolating should not visit recycling centres as per Public Health England guidance.

The recycling centres will operate to their standard opening hours. See individual site details for more information.

Punchbowl Recycling Centre in Crediton will only open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays (starting on Friday, 15 May).

Crowndale Recycling Centre in Tavistock will only open on Saturdays and Sundays (starting from Sunday, 17 May).

This is to ensure that that the adjacent waste transfer stations, which are vital in ensuring kerbside collections can continue, remain fully operational.

Frequently asked questions

What is classed as ‘essential’ use?

The government states that recycling centres can only be used if waste or recycling could not be stored safely at home without causing a risk of injury, health or harm to the resident or other members of their household, and cannot be legally and responsibly disposed of in other ways.

The government’s general message is that the public should stay at home or only make trips where absolutely necessary. Wherever possible, waste should be stored at home, other disposal routes utilised, for example, skip/hippo bag hire, or activities generating waste be avoided in the first place.

What constitutes or could constitute – ‘waste that cannot be stored without causing a risk of injury, health or harm to the resident or other members of their household’?

The Coronavirus Act (2020) provides the legislative framework and is supported by government guidance including that on stay at home and social distancing.

It would be reasonable for residents to undertake a journey to a recycling centre if the waste or recycling could not be stored safely at home or disposed of through other legitimate routes such as a dedicated collection.

By this, we mean that the waste/recycling could not be stored on their property without causing a risk of injury, health or harm to the resident or other members of their household or harm to public health and amenity.

The government has advised that each individual householder will need to decide whether their waste can or cannot be stored safely at home for now and whether their journey is essential and we cannot advise on specific examples.

Why are trailers, vans and pick-ups not permitted to use the HWRC?

To keep unloading times to a minimum and to ensure sites have enough capacity to serve as many people as possible for ‘essential’ reasons.

We will look at easing this restriction when the initial demand has eased.

We don’t have a car, we have a campervan. It has the same wheelbase as a car. Are we still excluded?

Yes, campervans are excluded. We need to keep unloading times to a minimum and to ensure sites have enough capacity to serve as many people as possible for ‘essential’ reasons, therefore only cars are able to use the recycling centres at present.

We will look at easing this restriction when the initial demand has eased.

Why are you only allowing two adults per vehicle?

In order to avoid overcrowding of the sites and to follow social distancing measures.

Site staff will not be offering assistance, so if you have a bulky item that takes two adults to load, for example, a washing machine, please ensure two adults visit the centre to unload.

Why will site staff not be offering assistance?

In order to follow site social distancing measures to protect site staff from potential infection.

If you have a bulky item that takes two adults to load, for example, a washing machine, please ensure two adults visit the centre to unload.

Why are you not accepting kerbside recyclables?

Kerbside recyclables such as paper, glass, cans, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays are collected by district councils at the kerbside and as such, there is no need for these items to be brought to recycling centres.

Can I take garden waste to the recycling centre?

Yes – the recycling centres can accept garden waste if it is classed as essential use.

Why is Punchbowl Recycling Centre (Crediton) and Crowndale Recycling Centre (Tavistock) opening on reduced days?

Punchbowl will only open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays (starting on Friday, 15 May).

Crowndale will only open on Saturdays and Sundays (starting on Sunday, 17 May).

This is to ensure that that the adjacent waste transfer stations, which are vital in ensuring kerbside waste collections continue, remain fully operational.

What are the opening hours of the recycling centres?

The centres will continue to operate to the standard opening hours – see individual site details.

Are the re-sale shops going to be open?

The re-sale shops will remain closed until further notice.

Any other restrictions?

In addition to these temporary restrictions, the usual restrictions/policies on what we can and cannot accept still applies:

• Acceptable, restricted and non-acceptable materials (view relevant recycling centre page for information)
• Site user restrictions
• Chargeable waste
• Asbestos
• Gas bottles
• Hazardous waste
• Noxious weeds

Recycling Centre Policy Summary (A61C Form)

Waste disposal

Advice on disposal of waste if someone in your household has or is suspected of having coronavirus (COVID-19)

Personal waste (such as used tissues) and disposable cleaning cloths must be stored securely within disposable rubbish bags.

These bags must be placed into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste. This must be put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in your usual external household waste bin.

Other household waste can be disposed of as normal.

Please visit the official UK government COVID-19 page for information about safe cleaning practices.

For all information on kerbside recycling/disposal services please visit your district council website.

Brunel Road Centre

When the Brunel Road centre in Newton Abbot opens as part of this process on Monday, access will only be by an alternative entrance on Minerva Way to prevent likely queues blocking access to the Council’s bulking station and to help manage the traffic. 
Residents are urged to travel to recycling centres only if their waste presents a hazard and cannot be legally and responsibly disposed of in other ways.