West London tips reopen with distancing in place
By Julia Gregory, Local Democracy Reporter
The first day of controlled reopening at a tip used by west London councils was busy as people arrived to drop off waste they could not store safely at home.
The Western Riverside Waste Authority (WRWA) opened the gates to the tips at Smugglers Way and Cringle Dock in Vauxhall on May 11 for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown began in March.
The WRWA tips are used by Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Councils, along with Wandsworth and Lambeth, and more details are available online.
People can only drop off green garden waste and bagged general waste – the rubbish that they put in their rubbish bin – and no other waste or recycling will be accepted.
The opening is staggered with different days allotted for motorists depending on whether their cars have odd or even number plates.
It saw a change in opening hours, social distancing on site and controls on the number of cars which can visit to prevent congestion.
A spokeswoman said the household waste recycling centre at Smugglers Way “was very busy for the first couple of hours after opening at 2pm, although the majority of the public were being patient and understanding, and so far mostly seem to be adhering to the new restrictions relating to admissions based on car registration numbers”.
She added: “The public would do better to arrive later in the day to avoid queuing, since we are now open until 8pm during the week.”
And the team has stressed that people should check the WRWA website before leaving home and can also check the live webcam to get an idea of the queuing time.
People can only visit recycling centres if they can’t store waste or recycling at home without “causing a risk of injury, health or harm to the resident or other members of their household or harm to public health and amenity”.
And WRWA said they must stay away if they have coronavirus symptoms or their household is following the 14-day isolation rules.
Weekly opening times have changed and people can only visit on certain days, depending on their car registration numbers.
They have to stick to the strict two-metre social distancing rules, and are advised to wear gloves for their own protection.
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