‘This is very weird’: Residents left confused after bikes banned from recycling centre

Residents have been left puzzled after a recycling centre appeared to ban manual bikes from being used to drop off waste.

Peter Walker, who lives in Camberwell, came across a sign outlining the new rules at the Southwark Household Waste Reuse and Recycling Centre (HWRRC) – run by waste management company Veolia – in Devon Street, on Friday afternoon.

He said: “There’s a new sign at the recycling centre where I just dropped a bike trailer load of old stuff, which says that the only bikes allowed there from now on are e-bikes, not manual ones. 

“No one seems to know why. This is very weird.”

The poster explained that residents can turn up on a manual bike but must leave it outside and take everything to the tip by hand.

This is very weird. There’s a new sign at the @lb_southwark recycling centre where I just dropped a bike trailer load of old stuff – I know how to live – which says that the only bikes allowed there* from now on are e-bikes, not manual ones. No one seems to know why. pic.twitter.com/uDIaubKnre

— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) January 5, 2024

Mr Walker said: “This makes it much harder to do, especially if you have a full trailer.”

While manual bikes are banned from the ramp into the site, e-bikes as well as cargo e-bikes are allowed into the site with no restrictions.

Mr Walker said: “These days it’s normally e-bikes that are banned from places given the dodgy batteries or illegal ones.”

Southwark councillor James McAsh said the regulations have been implemented for safety reasons due to the steepness of the ramp.

A spokesman from Veolia said: “For those bikes carrying loads that may cause a risk on the ramp, we offer recycling bays on ground level and our operatives can carry up any remaining items.”

Cllr McAsh said: “We have access options for pedal bikes and e-bikes at the site. Given the steepness of the ramp, it can be used by electrically powered bikes to access the upper level of the recycling centre.

“For all other bike users, we have an area on the lower level where residents can safely park their bikes in the racks provided and recycle the same wide range of items as other site users.”

Pictured top: A sign outlining the new rules at a Southwark council recycling centre (Picture: Peter Walker)