We run 9 recycling centres across the county for use by Derbyshire residents only. The centres, which accept household waste only, are all open 7 days a week from 8.30am to 6pm, except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Now we have launched a public consultation on recycling centres to find out what local people think about:
- reducing the number of hours or days the centres are open.
- charging residents to dispose of tyres and asbestos at the recycling centres
- supporting local businesses and sole traders by allowing them to dispose of commercial waste at a limited number of the recycling centres for a reasonable charge. Trade waste is currently not accepted at any of the sites
- adopting the government definition of DIY waste which can be disposed of at recycling centres for free. This includes construction waste produced by residents themselves while making improvements to their home; limits the amount of construction waste residents can take to the sites to up to two 50L rubble bags (or one bulky or fitted item no larger than 2,000mm by 750mm by 700mm, the approximate size of a bathtub or shower screen); and allows residents to dispose of construction waste not more than 4 times over a 4-week period.
Our Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, Councillor Carolyn Renwick, said:
“We’re constantly looking for ways to make the services we provide more efficient and effective and we want to know what local residents and businesses think about changes proposed to the way our recycling centres are run in the future.
“All comments will be taken into account and I’d encourage as many people as possible to take part in the public consultation."
In addition, we are asking residents about what support they might need to access a vehicle registration scheme to use the recycling centres.
The registration scheme is being introduced to make sure those using the sites are entitled to do so. It follows a 32% increase in the amount of waste collected at the sites since 2017 to 2018 which has risen to 85,000 tonnes a year, costing an extra £700,000 to £800,000 in annual recycling and disposal costs.