Waste recycling centres to remain open seven days a week

THROUGHOUT the pandemic Sheffield’s recycling centres have remained open, and weekly kerbside waste collection has been maintained.

This is in contrast with other local authorities in the country who closed recycling sites and provided a reduced kerbside waste collection service.

As we move into the winter months it is usual for changes to the city’s waste management to be implemented. In normal times, most sites would close for a day or two a week, and see the opening hours limited to 10am to 4pm.

However, Sheffield City Council has announced that this year all sites will remain open seven days a week, and will stay open to 5pm.

Labour Councillor Mark Jones, Cabinet Member for Environment, Streetscene and Climate Change, said: “Throughout the crisis the Council has had to adapt all services and act quickly to protect citizens. Managing the city’s waste in such conditions has been difficult but early in the pandemic we took the decision to keep our Household Waste Recycling Centres open.

“This has helped to facilitate the safe and responsible disposal of waste, and has helped to reduce waste accumulation across the city so that kerbside waste collections could continue, should these services be significantly disrupted due to workforce issues.

“In normal times, the majority of Recycling Centres would not be open every day of the week, but we have taken the decision to keep them open – all week – and keep them open for longer than they normally would be. Things remain just as difficult as it was in the summer months, and this is why we have taken this decision.

“There will be costs associated, however we will continue to monitor demand and review operations. We do not spend public money lightly, but keeping the public highways safe whilst ensuring that Sheffield’s residents can dispose of waste safely and responsibly is of crucial.”

Cllr Julie Grocutt, Labour councillor for Stocksbridge and Up- per Don added: “In normal times the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Deepcar would reduce opening hours to five days a week – in response to decreasing winter demand. However, we are in anything but normal times, and this is why Labour councillors have taken the decision to keep recycling centres open seven days a week and to keep them open an hour longer than they usually would be.

“I want to reassure residents that even though things are tough, I remain committed to ensuring a high-quality waste management service, including weekly collections, and will strive to see this continue".

Cllr Adam Hurst, Labour Councillor for West Ecclesfield, said :“The High Green Household Waste Recycling Centre is well used throughout the area and it made sense to me to keep it open all week.

“It is of course an incredibly challenging time, but I promise readers that Labour councillors will continue to work proactively to respond to changing waste management issues caused by the Covid pandemic.”