Rochdale Recycling centres to re-open with new restrictions

The borough’s 2 recycling centres at Chichester Street in Rochdale and Spring Vale in Middleton are due to re-open on Saturday, 2 May 2020 – but with restrictions.

The sites, which are owned by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and operated by recycling and waste management firm SUEZ, were closed last month to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The decision to re-open them to residents has come largely due to an increase in fly-tipping across the borough and elsewhere in the region and the fact that households are accumulating more general waste from being at home during the lockdown period.

Although the sites are re-opening they should only be used by those with a genuine need to dispose of extra waste. The Rochdale site will only be open at weekends to prevent refuse collection trucks being held up in queues during weekdays.

A trip to the tip should not be classed as an ‘essential’ journey and residents should only visit if it is essential to prevent injury, illness or harm or if you have a problem with storing too much waste or other hazardous waste at home.

The council has been advised on the following ruling that will be in place:

• Anyone in self-isolation or with COVID-19 symptoms must not visit the recycling centres under any circumstances.
• Only bagged general waste will be accepted at the recycling centres. The council’s usual general waste collections will still be in operation. Also, residents can still take advantage of bulky waste collections from their homes.
• The sites will not accept any other type of recycling or garden waste at this time so please keep this at home until normal service is resumed. The council’s usual garden and recycling collections will still be in operation.
• Cars and small vans only, no transit type vehicles or trailers.
• The public should only visit sites if it is necessary, for example, if items stored at home represent a health and safety risk.
• The number of vehicles on-site will be restricted and cars should be driver-only.
• Social distancing at 2 metres will be strictly enforced and operatives cannot assist the public.
• Restricted opening hours are in place with, no walk-ons.
• The recycling centres will only be kept open with the cooperation of the public. Any excessive queues, abuse of the staff or disregard of the new site rules, may mean the recycling centre may be forced to close.

The re-opening of the site will be popular, which will impact greatly on the amount of traffic leading up to each of the local sites. With this in mind, the council ask you to hold off visiting or prepare to sit in a queue of traffic.

On average, most sites have up to 2,000 visitors per day, which is likely to escalate due to closures. The council will be operating a full traffic management plan to help alleviate congestion, but residents may be asked to return home if queues are too long.

Councillor Neil Emmott, cabinet member for environment at the council, said: “The decision to open the recycling centres will be welcomed by many, but I urge households to not visit unless essential, and where waste is causing a problem to health. Please consider your waste management and to think before discarding waste and avoid any non-essential clear outs to reduce the need to visit.