Posted on: Thursday 14 May 2020
Following the latest Welsh Government announcement, and the subsequent change in the regulations allowing residents to visit recycling and waste sites, Torfaen’s plans to re-open its Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at New Inn on Tuesday 26th May are progressing at speed.
A detailed plan is being developed to ensure residents’ visits to the HWRC are managed in a safe and structured way, complying with all current advice on social distancing.
In this initial period of reopening visits to the centre should only take place if classed as essential, if we can’t collect the waste you are bringing to the site using our normal kerbside collection, and you can’t store it safely at home. A booking system will be introduced and booking before visiting will be the only way to gain entry to the site.
Councillor Mandy Owen, executive member for the environment said: “We appreciate the importance of opening the HWRC and thank residents for their patience while it has been closed. In order to reopen we’ve had to consider the safety of everyone concerned.
“A visit to the HWRC will be different when reopened as we are taking measures to manage the number of daily visitors and keep staff and visitors safe.
“Restrictions will be in place and all visits will be via a strict booking system. You will not be able to turn up at site without an official booking or outside your time slot – you will not gain entry if you do.
“As a result, we ask that if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of COVID19 or is currently shielding, please do not visit the centres. Please observe social distancing when you visit, and take your own gloves or hand sanitiser with you as it will not be provided on site.
“It’s important to reduce your time at the recycling centre, and this is why we are asking for everyone to pre-sort their recycling before they leave home.
“If we all work together, and stick to the guidelines, those who need to use the centres will be able to do so safely.”
The current plan will only permit 7 vehicles on site at any one time, with the site split into 2 zones controlled by staff. Vans and trailers will not be permitted to enter the site during this period.
Dynamic daily reviews will take place at the end of each day and a weekly review will consider capacity on site and any scaling up or down depending on how successful the operation of the site is.
The site will be open 7 days a week and will operate on hourly slots, Monday to Saturday 7:30am until 4:30pm, and Sunday 9am-5pm
Full details of operation and site rules will be released next week. The booking system is expected to go live next week and once live, bookings will be made online by visiting www.torfaen.gov.uk
Due to staff in customer care undertaking priority contact work connected to the council’s covid response, calls to 01495 762200 should only be made to book where a resident has no online access.