Booking system to be trialled at recycling centres

Each household will be able to take up to eight bags of soil or rubble to their local recycling centre

A booking system is to be trialled at Cornwall's busiest recycling centres in a bid to cut down on long queues, Cornwall Council has said.

From September 9, the council is asking people to book in advance before visiting the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) in Newquay or Saltash.

The booking system will also be introduced at St Erth HWRC from September 23.

The new system comes as Cornwall Council says people can take take DIY waste to nine of the county's recycling centre for free.

'Popular among residents'

Councillor Carol Mould, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods at Cornwall Council, said: “We know it’s frustrating when there are queues at the HWRCs.

“We’ve developed a booking system to reduce waiting times and queues, help keep road users safe and minimise disruption to residents and businesses.

“Please sort your items into different materials before you arrive. This means we can recycle more and will save you time when you arrive at the sites.”

The council is accepting a limited amount of DIY waste, including asbestos, plasterboard, soil and rubble at sites in St Erth, Falmouth, Truro, Newquay, St Austell, Saltash, Bude, Tintagel and Connon Bridge, Liskeard.

It said when construction works were completed at the Launceston HWRC then DIY waste would be introduced at the site and removed from the Tintagel HWRC.

It said each household could take up to eight bags of soil or rubble, or four sheets of plasterboard or asbestos a week to the designated sites.

Ms Mould added: "After reviewing the data, we recognised there was a need to provide better access to this service for residents in South East Cornwall and have therefore added DIY waste to the site at Connon Bridge."