Booking system planned for Harlow recycling centre
News / Tue 31st Jan 2023 am31 07:30am
FROM Monday 13 March 2023, residents visiting Essex County Council recycling centres will need to book in advance.
A booking system will be trialled for all vehicles visiting Essex County Council (ECC) recycling centres to help manage waiting times, reduce congestion, and improve the customer experience.
The booking process has already been trialled for all vehicles using Rayleigh Recycling Centre, and also for large vehicles using the nine van-friendly sites.
Both trials have been effective in smoothing the pattern of demand across operating hours and reducing queues and congestion both in and around the sites.
Residents will be able to book their slots in advance via a link on the Love Essex website.
Site users visiting by foot do not need to book a slot.
Blue Badge holders do not need to book a slot and can visit any recycling centre in any vehicle, including vans at any ECC recycling centre.
Cllr Malcolm Buckley, ECC Cabinet Member for Waste Reduction and Recycling, said: “The booking system trials at both Rayleigh Recycling Centre and the van-friendly sites have been well-received by residents.
“The sites have been less congested, and we’ve been able to reduce the misuse of sites by vehicles carrying commercial waste.
“Residents will continue to be encouraged to switch off their engines when waiting to access the recycling centres.
“We will monitor the trial to measure its success and can make amendments as necessary.”
For full details, please visit the Love Essex website at www.loveessex.org.
Jerry
2023-01-31 09:08:39
So why are blue badge holders exempt from having to book a slot? Perhaps ECC could tell us why.
Joanne Horscraft
2023-01-31 09:27:44
Look forward to driving round the fly tipping which will increase am sure.
jarrett
2023-01-31 09:34:51
Why i ask, Since covid when the tip bought in social distancing i have never had to queue more than a minute or so, is this so they can check for people abusing the system meaning they do not have to pay dvla for a check via the cameras and as Joanne said flytipping will increase as if it is not bad enough already.
Kim Oconnor
2023-01-31 09:54:52
That's all well and good until they tell you,, oh sorry we are booked that day. Or if you book a slot, and your stuck in traffic,, and then you miss that slot. It will be like trying to see a doctor. And I do think you need to concentrate on fly tipping more importantly, this will not improve this situation.
Nostradamus
2023-01-31 09:57:16
Councils are doing a great job at persuading people not to use such centres and recycling, whilst increasing expenditure to save money: how many will the booking scheme cost? Fly tipping is already costing the public purse an absolute fortune but probably a different bugdet: so while one portfolio holder smugly crows about saving money another finds costs have soared. If the worry is that there's congestion then perhaps the guys there will actually help people unload and a simple live stream camera could enable people to look on t'internet and actually see how busy the site is. Note: the assumption that everyone has an or can afford an internet connection and this is far from being the case. Waste is toxic, there should be absolutely no hurdles or fees in the way.
Nick Langman
2023-01-31 10:19:47
How this will work in Harlow is not clear, but I found the following on part of the "love Essex" website.. Bookings maximum of 2 weeks in advance. One visit per week. No "same day" bookings. 15 minute time slots. Need to take proof of booking and proof of address. AND it will affect any vehicles, not just vans. This will be fun. :(
Bobby Bobbler
2023-01-31 11:02:06
"Site users visiting by foot do not need to book a slot." ...which will mean cars/vans stopping outside and carrying their waste in. “Residents will continue to be encouraged to switch off their engines when waiting to access the recycling centres." ...that's never happened “We will monitor the trial to measure its success and can make amendments as necessary.” ...what is the measure of success? Stopping council tax payers from using the service they pay for?
David
2023-01-31 11:18:58
Fly tipping coming to a Lane near you. Will put my rubbish in the Potholes.
GW
2023-01-31 11:36:39
Why book during the week, the place is always quiet, only at weekends is there a queue. Another ill thought out idea, or is this big brother monitoring us again. We already pay for this service but just wait for the booking fee to come.
Genevieve Smith
2023-01-31 12:58:34
I can visualise a lucrative business for blue badge holders!! Ha Ha Ha!!
Jim
2023-01-31 13:33:25
Absolute madness. Someone who has no morals and who turns up at the dump but not booked a slot, will probably just dump it on the way home. There are no issues at the moment. Why make things difficult. Just more fly tipping everywhere.
Mr Grumpy
2023-01-31 15:00:33
If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it. HC and ECC will soon be whinging about an increase of fly tipping. Mark my words!!!
rasp
2023-01-31 18:25:11
Filling the potholes with our rubbish is a great idea.
Essex girl
2023-01-31 19:01:53
Just me that thinks Love Essex is an interesting name for the website
tomcat
2023-01-31 22:20:22
What a load of nonsense again, and disabled don' t need to book and can bring a car,Mobility scooter, van, Minibus or even an articulated truck if they can clearly display a blue badge! What a complete waste of tie and tax payers money!
Luke Burton
2023-02-01 08:17:51
Great. Another council IT system to access a basic service we all pay our taxes for.
TL
2023-02-01 08:42:27
whoever came.up with this idea needs sacking. I've had a sofa I needed to get rid of since december. called the council to book and pay £25 and they tell me they dont take household furniture anymore like sofas beds etc due to the "New eco friendly system" and that I would need to get rid of it myself, I dont drive and I have mobility problems. I am now stuck with this sofa and cant get it to the dump, the council have put in no alternative arrangements for the people who rely on this service, this is why we are seeing a major increase in dumped household items around harlow also as the council will not take it. now I'm guessing the person who made this ridiculous rule up had a big van/truck and is able to get rid of their household items with EASE even for free, they also have the money to run this vehicle, pay the insurance, tax etc, a lot us cannot afford this and reply on these services, esp the disabled and vunerble, it's a total disgrace, why are we paying so much council tax they barely do anything anymore!
TL
2023-02-01 08:52:38
harlow council said they were "reviewing" this decision in January and that they have had a lot of complaints from the public, it's now February and they are still going ahead with it when they know its NOT WORKING. I've had enough of this bs with this council. harlow will look like a dump yard by the summer and Essex council can blame yourselves! the system isnt WORKING, it wasnt broken so why try and fix it and make everything go to pot? absolute idiots with no common sense making these stupid rules. ESSEX COUNCIL TELL ME HOW I CAN GET RID OF MY SOFA WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND BEING DISABLED? I will wait for the reply.....
Sodthisforalark
2023-02-01 12:02:27
What a farce. And also, not taking sofas etc anymore? Madness. Leaves little option for those who do not drive to dump outside their homes and then report fly tipping.
Terry
2023-02-01 18:41:59
Malcom Buckley this is NOT what we want, it will discourage legal waste removal and encourage dumping..we all know this . Another terrible local council idea
Matthew
2023-02-01 19:02:48
Email [email protected] and your local County Councillor. That's what I'm doing
Nicholas Taylor
2023-02-01 19:57:41
The significant increase in the number of residents living in the area, the likelihood that there will be a huge further increase in the next decade and the building of a river crossing to Riverway, means that the need for a much larger recycling centre at another location could not be more stark. The one near Ware is a good example of what is needed. Council's need to take a completely new approach to the disposal of rubbish, allowing anyone an everybody to take stuff to the 'tip', even if commercial rubbish and without the need for a licence and recording of vehicles coming and going. This would negate the need for anyone to dump rubbish (over 1 million recorded cases last year across the country), which can be very expensive to remove and is a danger to the environment.
Joan Cook
2023-02-01 22:07:05
😡 more fly tipping! It works well at the moment, always spaces when I visit. If it ain’t broke don’t mend it!
NL
2023-02-02 05:14:12
Identifying licenced companies to collect waste from domestic users is not easy. There are often adverts on social media, but how do you tell they are genuine? If this is going ahead, how about a list of approved disposal companies on the Council websites so residents can ensure they use the right companies.
rasp
2023-02-03 16:32:46
What a load of rubbish.
Chris
2023-03-12 21:08:13
This is what happens when they let "expert council officials" out of the asyl... An efficient and effective system destroyed at the whim of an ECC portfolio holder with no idea of what works. Harlow tip often appears fully staffed, not sure doing what. Flytippers paradise awaits with the massive clear-up costs to council tax payer's, profits to non-registered waste clearer will soar.
Steve Tyne
2023-03-21 08:30:58
I live in North Weald but a Harlow resident for 40+years what complete numpties agreed to the tip booking system, sorry Harlow Council you’re a joke for being Lemmings in an obviously ridiculous scheme destined for failure!!!!
Linda Andylord
2023-03-21 15:29:56
I don't think we all needs this booking system at the moment especially week days because its not busy, this is unnecessary rules.
MC
2023-03-23 00:38:30
Crazy idea, not thought out. Have been using the recycling center for years and never had to wait too long during the week. It will cause more fly tipping. Also, the slots are 15 minutes. How can you guarantee to get there in that time if you come from a long way, or get delayed by something. Went today for the first time with the new system and there were only two cars in there. Bet the staff don't like it as there will be so few people using it there may be layoffs. This sound like some Globalist idea like the 15 minute cities to restrict and control everyone. Like smart meters, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Hopefully, as this is supposed to be a trial, they will think better and revoke it.
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