Councils working to re-open waste sites

Added on 10 May 2020

The city and county councils say they are working hard to re-open some of their recycling and household waste sites later this month.

Under new Government guidelines, sites can re-open for waste that can’t be stored safely at home.

Leicestershire County Council says it will open the gates on Monday, 18 May – at seven sites over seven days a week. The county sites opening are at Barwell, Lount, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Mountsorrel, Oadby and Whetstone.

The seven county sites will be open to county residents only. The county council is also looking to introduce a booking system for their sites.

Leicester City Council will open its Gypsum Close site for five days a week, starting on Wednesday, 20 May.

The city council has also re-opened its large bulky waste collection service, which city residents can book online, and it continues to operate a weekly refuse and kerbside recycling service.

The city council’s other site at Freemen’s Common remains closed.

People are being asked to only go to the sites if stored waste is becoming unsafe at home and at risk of causing injury, illness or harm.

Both councils are working closely with other local authorities in the region around co-ordinating the re-opening of sites so people don’t travel to neighbouring areas to dispose of waste.

Social distancing will be in operation at all city and county sites, and plans will also include traffic management arrangements.

There will be restrictions to the type of items which people will be able to bring to county locations - so some waste types will still have to wait.