Council scraps phone system for recycling centres

From March 2026, all Hampshire County Council bookings must be made through a digital system

A council will scrap telephone bookings and payments for people wanting to use household waste recycling centres.

From March next year, all Hampshire County Council bookings must be made through a digital system, which will not allow telephone reservations.

It said the decision was made due to concerns about the high cost of the service, as well as the effectiveness and speed of responses within the current system.

The change will have a negative impact on vulnerable residents, particularly the elderly, disabled and those living in rural areas with limited internet access, the council acknowledged.

It has proposed measures to mitigate the impact, including creating an accessible website and providing support for people with special communication requirements.

Drivers with vans and trailers must obtain a digital permit issued by the new service to replace their printed ones.

Pentagull has been awarded a four-year contract worth £200,000 for the system.

Portsmouth and Southampton city councils, which share recycling centre services, are expected to contribute to about 10% of the cost.

The decision report said: "Provision of telephone support for a digital permit system is not supported by the corporate digital first approach to communications and would incur significant cost to develop.

"As such, no telephone support for the digital permit system will be provided."

Currently, the county council provides 24 recycling centres across Hampshire for bulky household and garden waste.