Recycling centres reopen in the south of Scotland

As southern Scotland's household recycling centres re-open, people are being warned to expect lengthy queues.

Councils are opening facilities on a phased basis to help manage demand and ensure extra staff are in place.

Councils across the country shut sites during the coronavirus crisis to concentrate on kerbside collections, and reduce the risk of spreading the disease.

Restrictions to maintain social distancing are in place in order to keep staff, and members of the public, visiting the sites.

  • Scottish Borders

Sites in the Scottish Borders are operating between 9am and 2pm and only accepting garden and general waste.

An odd and even vehicle number plate system will be in place, which means you can only visit on certain days.

The site will only allow cars and small vans weighing up to two tonnes drop off waste. No large vans, trailers or horse boxes will be accepted and a maximum of five bin bags per trip.

A new traffic management system is in place which will track estimated waiting times for each recycling centre in the Borders.

Centres that have reopened include Duns, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick, Peebles (Eshiels), Selkirk and Kelso. More information is available here.

Recycling centre in the Scottish Borders. Credit: PA

SBC’s Chief Executive Tracey Logan added: “We thank all residents for their patience and cooperation while the community recycling centres were closed.

“Residents should note that the reopening of recycling centres does not mean these facilities have returned to normal business, with temporary restrictions potentially in place in the longer term.

“We would ask that anyone using a community recycling centre to follow the restrictions and guidance we have in place, and treat our staff with respect.”

  • Dumfries and Galloway

In Dumfries and Galloway, ten out of twelve sites will re-open - Thornhill and Whithorn will remain closed.

People visiting the site will find only bagged waste will be accepted, and due to requirement to social distance, staff cannot offer any recycling on-site.

Opening times differ depending on the recycling centre. Annan, Locharmoss, Castle Douglas and Stranraer will open at 9am.

The smaller sites - Beattock, Lincluden, Sanquhar, Dalbeattie and Newton Stewart - reopen at 12:15pm.

Find out if your local site is busy by visiting the Dumfries and Galloway website:

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