Five recycling centres reopening in Derry & Strabane - Queuing system will be in place and people urged to only visit if essential

Amid fears that many people may try to access the centres at the same time, the Council has issued a message to local people advising them that there will be a queuing system in place and urging those attending to be patient and respectful to staff.

The five recycling centres at Pennyburn, Strathfoyle, Glendermott Road, Claudy and Strahan Road in Strabane, will be open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 6pm on Saturdays.

The Pennyburn, Glendermott Road and Strahan Road sites will also open from 1pm to 5pm on Sundays.

The remaining six sites will remain closed for now, with Council regularly reviewing this.

The reopenings follow an announcement by the NI Executive last week that the disposal of waste is constituted as an appropriate reason for travel.

Council’s Waste Services Manager Nicola McCool said today: “Please only make the journey if it is essential. If you have larger items please avail of the bulky waste service.

“There will be a queueing system in place so please be patient, and please remember to maintain social distancing at all times.

“Our staff will also be under pressure so please be respectful. We are all in this together.”

A number of restrictions and controls will be in place at all centres to ensure the health and safety of staff and the public using the site.

In addition to having in place a one-way system, the Council has advised that in keeping with guidelines, the number of cars accessing the sites at any one time will be restricted.

Large vans or trailers will not be permitted access when sites initially reopen to improve traffic flow and reduce waiting times. Only one person will be permitted to leave their vehicle to dispose of waste with staff unable to provide assistance.

The public are asked to avoid bringing bulky waste onto the site during the initial reopening phase and encouraged to continue to use the Bulky Waste Collection Service and to also avoid visiting the recycling centres during peak times in the afternoon.

Anyone intending to dispose of black bags must ensure they are double bagged and have been stored for a 72-hour period before disposal, as per PHA guidelines.

In order to protect staff and the wider public, social distancing is required within all the sites and the public will be required to unload their own waste. Members of the public experiencing symptoms or who are self-isolating must not enter the recycling centres.

Council will have staff on hand to offer guidance only however, it is imperative that the public adhere to their instructions at all times and co-operate fully with them as they continue to provide an important public service during this challenging time. Abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.

People are advised to continue to use the bulky waste collection service to dispose of large items rather than attending centres at this time. Book online at www.derrystrabane.com/service/wasterecycling/bulkywasteFor more info see www.derrystrabane.com/recycling