Recycling centre booking system to be scrapped in Aberdeenshire
The system has been in place since the pandemic but will be lifted in January
Aberdeenshire recycling centre booking systems will be scrapped in the new year, following a public consultation.
The scheme has been in place since the end of the first COVID-19 lockdown and was put in place to protect staff and visitors by reducing congestion.
It will come into force from January 8, and the scrapping applies to all but two plants in the authority, with slot booking to be kept at Inverurie and Westhill.
At the Inverurie site there have been issues with congestion around the centre and near by shops, causing long delays and becoming a police traffic issue on occasion.
Westhill and Inverurie to keep booking system
The concern for the Westhill plant is the proximity to Aberdeen City, which may encourage people from outside the local authority to dispose of waste at the centre, as well as adding to congestion.
Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC) vice chair, Councillor Isobel Davidson, said: “We hope that Inverurie and Westhill residents will appreciate the reasoning behind the booking system remaining at their local household recycling centres.
“It was fascinating to see that, throughout the trial, people made fewer trips but with more deposited on each occasion. It would be good, in terms of climate change and reducing car journeys, if this habit were to continue.”
From noon to 12.30pm every day, pedestrians, bikes and bikes with trailers will be granted safe access to sites without the presence of other vehicles, due to high demand at Alford, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Insch, Laurencekirk, Portsoy, Turriff and Westhill.
Check ahead before going to centres
Residents are still being encouraged to check ahead before going to household recycling plants to avoid any delays.
ISC Chair, Councillor Alan Turner said: “Regardless of whether residents of Aberdeenshire need to book or not, I’d encourage everyone who wishes to visit a household recycling centre to continue to check the website for opening times.
“There are occasions where we must close a site at short notice and a quick visit to our web pages will save people a wasted trip in the few instances where we must make an unexpected closure.”
Control measures on trade waste will remain in place, with the booking system staying for trade type vehicles, such as vans and trailers, along with a limit of 24 visits per year.
The council is stressing that household recycling centres are for household waste only, businesses can sign up to a trade waste collection service or use the council’s business waste drop-off service.