Recycling centres across Harrogate and North Yorkshire to remain open during second lockdown

North Yorkshire County Council has announced it will keep all 21 of its sites open throughout the remaining three-week period.

All household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) were closed during the first lockdown in a move which bosses said was for "public safety and to cut non-essential travel."

When recycling centres did reopen with strict safety measures in May, thousands of people were left queuing for hours.

Harrogate's Penny Pot Lane site was the busiest as on some days more than 60 vehicles were counted to have passed through its gates every hour.

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Access restrictions will now remain in place to control visitor numbers on site at any time and to ensure appropriate social distancing for visitors and staff.

However, members of the public are being asked to adhere to the government's 'stay at home' message and only visit one of the centres if it is absolutely essential at this time.

Ian Fielding, the council's assistant director of waste management, said: “The current national restrictions recognise visiting a household waste recycling centre as an exemption to the guidance to stay at home. The HWRCs will therefore remain open during the current period of lockdown, but we are all being asked to stay at home as much as possible so please only use a centre if you have to.

“Everyone should continue to reduce, reuse and recycle as much of their waste as they can in line with the guidance provided by their district or borough council.

“For people who need to visit an HWRC, the measures that have enabled centres to operate safely for the past six months remain in place. Visitors have adhered to these measures, which we appreciate. There is no reason for this to change.”

The council runs recycling sites in Burniston, Catterick Bridge, Harrogate, Leeming Bar, Leyburn, Malton and Norton, Northallerton, Ripon, Seamer Carr, Selby, Settle, Skipton, Sowerby, Stokesley, Tadcaster, Tholthorpe, Thorton-le-Dale, Whitby and Wombleton.

It also runs a mobile recycling service at several locations.

Full details of the safety measures and winter opening times can be found at www.northyorks.gov.uk/household-waste-and-recycling-during-coronavirus-covid-19

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter