Bristol waste recycling sites to start asking to see ID

People wanting to use two waste recycling sites in Bristol will be asked to show ID before being let in.

The Liberal Democrat-controlled council said it was to stop people from outside the area using its free service.

Councillor Gary Hopkins, who is in charge of the city's waste, said he felt the scheme was needed.

He said people travelling into the city from outside tended to bring their own materials in rather than taking it to centres near their homes.

'Longer queues'

Mr Hopkins said about 20% more people were using the St Phillips and the Avonmouth sites since neighbouring authorities started checking visitors.

"Other centres [outside the city] are cutting their hours and bringing in costs - which we don't want to do. We think it's very sensible we treat Bristol's waste and not others.

"The surrounding councils have facilities which are residents only. The problem is that we are taking from them and they aren't taking from us.

"We are seeing longer queues at our two centres, so that's one of the reasons were are going to be opening a new one in south Bristol very soon."

Charles Newman, chief executive of Resource magazine, which specialises in waste and recycling, said the idea of checking ID was not new.

"Generally it will cost an authority £100 per tonne to dispose of rubbish, so that means each car load represents about £10."