North Yorkshire County Council is to introduce changes at its 20 household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) across the county from 1 April.
The changes form part of the council’s overall requirement to save about £170m between 2011/12 and 2019/20 as a result of reductions in government funding.
While striving to protect the service provided at its HWRCs, the County Council aims to save more than £150,000 from the cost of the service. As a result, changes will come into effect from April.
New opening times will come into force, with sites closing earlier. HWRCs have been open until 7pm between April and September, and until 5pm in October and March, but from April they will close earlier. This is the quietest time, so closing earlier will help save money without significantly reducing the service provided.
From 1 April 2016, the new opening times for all HWRCs will be:
- April to September, 8.30am to 5pm
- October to March, 8.30am to 4pm. (As the changes do not take effect until April, HWRCs will close as normal at 5pm in March 2016.)
Residents currently pay to dispose of hardcore, rubble and plasterboard waste. From April, charges will be made to cover the cost of disposing of vehicle tyres at HWRCs. These are non-household waste and accepting them at HWRCs is offered as an additional service for customers.
County Councillor Chris Metcalfe, Executive Member for Waste Management, said: “We know the household waste recycling centres across North Yorkshire provide a highly valued service. We would prefer not to have to make changes to the service, but because of reducing Government funding we need to save money and are doing all we can to keep the impact on residents to a minimum.
“Tyres are not considered household waste, so accepting them at household waste recycling centres is an additional service. Introducing a charge brings our centres into line with most garages and tyre companies, which already charge for disposal of tyres.
“HWRCs are used by relatively few people after 5pm, so closing earlier in the summer will affect as few users as possible. HWRCs across North Yorkshire already close on Wednesday, but all will remain open six days each week, including Saturday and Sunday. Altogether these changes will make an important contribution to helping balance our budget.”