Household waste recycling centre opening hours extended at Wick and Thurso
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Saturday opening hours are being introduced at Highland Council's household waste recycling centres in Wick and Thurso.
The move is part of the local authority's Covid-19 recovery plan, with most recycling centres across the region seeing their opening times extended to include a Saturday or a Sunday for the public to dispose of household waste.
The changes take effect from this weekend. Householders are urged to check the Highland Council website to find the opening hours and materials that are accepted before travelling to a site.
Senior waste manager Alan McKinnie said: “I am delighted we are now in a position to move to the next stage of the recovery plan for the household waste recycling centres by opening the majority of sites across the region during the weekend.
"Extending the opening hours to include a weekend day will make it more convenient for householders who work during the week to use the facilities and will also help improve the flow of traffic at the busier sites.
“The larger household waste recycling centres remain busy with high visitor numbers per day and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their patience and understanding while the sites have been reopened to accommodate the ‘new normal’.
“To help reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus, restrictions on the range of materials will continue for the time being. This is to help reduce the time spent at the sites by individuals, so that as many as people as possible can pass through the sites quickly and safely, enabling traffic to flow more freely.”
To reduce the time spent on the site, all householders are encouraged to separate their items before they visit a recycling centre. An online booking system is in place at the larger sites for small vans (under 3.5 tonnes) and trailers – bookings must be made 48 hours in advance and customers who book must present their booking confirmation to site staff on arrival. The council website has a list of frequently asked questions.
Site staff will be continuing to adopt robust hygiene standards. Householders should wash their hands before and after visiting. They are also asked to observe social distancing and stay two metres apart from staff and other site users when at a recycling centre.
Opening hours at Wick and Thurso are Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm; and Saturday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch from noon to 12.30pm).
Householders are reminded not to visit the site if they are showing symptoms of coronavirus.
No commercial waste will be accepted.
Highland Council’s bulky uplift collection service is also operating and collects unwanted household items such as furniture, electrical appliances, bathroom suites and sanitary ware, kitchen units and sinks. Householders can book the bulky uplift service online or call 01349 886603.
