NPT Household Waste Recycling Centres Re-opening
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are to re-open to the public on Tuesday, May 26th with significant safety measures in place.
The centres were closed on March 24th under Welsh Government guidance. When they re-open, it will not be “business as usual” as a series of measures will be in place to help maintain the safety and welfare of both staff and visitors to the site.
The council’s HWRCs at Briton Ferry and Cymmer are managed under contract by FCC Environment and the firm will work with the council on the re-opening of the sites.
NPT residents in the Swansea Valley area will be able to use the HWRC at Lower Cwmtwrch: please ensure you check their revised procedures here www.powys.gov.uk/article/725/Household-Waste-Recycling-Centres before visiting.
In the interests of public safety, only arrange to use these facilities if you are no longer able to safely store the excess waste at home.
From May 26th, the following measures will be in place at Briton Ferry and Cymmer HWRCs to maintain social distancing and good hygiene:
• An online booking system for 20 minute slots will be available from 09.00am Friday 22nd May, www.npt.gov.uk/recyclingcentres, controlling the number of vehicles to a maximum of ten in Briton Ferry and three in Cymmer at any one time. Proof of residency will also be required at the HWRCs.
• You will be expected to respect the staff whilst on or waiting to access the site, everyone is finding things difficult at this time and staff are just complying with rules put in place to keep everyone safe.
• Only one person per vehicle will be allowed as a general rule but if that’s not possible, only one person should exit the vehicle while on site. Staff will help residents by providing direction and advice (in line with social distancing guidance) and residents will need to unload their own vehicles i.e. staff will not be able to help with unloading.
• Parking bays will be closed off on an alternating basis to prevent site-users from parking next to each other to achieve social distancing.
• Only cars, MPVs and 4x4s to be allowed on site. No trailers will allowed on site and the permit scheme for vans or trailers will not, initially, be re-introduced – no vans or trailers will be allowed on site. This will help speed up access to the sites.
• Extra signage and barriers will be in place to help enforce social distancing.
• The Re-use Shop will remain closed until the removal of restrictions on the opening of non-essential retail shops.
Along with regular cleaning of ‘touch points’, HWRC sites will be cleansed during and at the end of each day including walkways, handrails etc.
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Engineering, Cllr Ted Latham said: “The HWRCs were closed on Welsh Government advice but it is felt the time is now right to restore safe access to these sites.
“There has been a tremendous response from residents in Neath Port Talbot to unprecedented lock-down measures and their thank you messages to our waste and recycling staff have been very much appreciated.
“I’m confident they will work with us as we seek to ensure our HWRCs can re-open while keeping staff and residents safe in the face of this ongoing pandemic.”
News taken from NPT Council Website 18th May 2020