Recycling sites re-open

The four recycling centres in Dunbar, North Berwick, Macmerry and Kinwegar, by Wallyford reopened on 1 June 2020.

Cabinet spokesperson for Environment, Cllr Norman Hampshire, said: “Although we know that some local residents have experienced inconvenience during these temporary closures, government guidance was clear that a journey to household waste recycling centre was not considered essential travel, so East Lothian Council prioritised maintaining essential kerbside collections which our residents rely on.”

“The safety of both staff and site users remains our top priority and in order to reopen we will be introducing new rules following national guidelines around social distancing measures, appropriate hygiene procedures and traffic management and we ask that people planning to come to these sites respect and observe these requirements.”

Visitors to an East Lothian Recycling Site must:

• Produce proof of East Lothian residency such as driving licence, Council Tax letter to be shown through your car window to our staff – no ID = no access.
• Not travel to any recycling centre if you are showing any signs of infection, have  a member of your household showing symptoms, or are self-isolating due to COVID-19.
• Be aware of the limit on the number of vehicles allowed onto the tipping areas. This will operate on a one in one out system and will inevitably lead to long queues at peak times.
• Aim to keep your unloading time to a minimum  - no more than 5 minutes per vehicle (including vans/trailers) to allow others access to the site
• Please be aware that if queues build up we may have to temporarily close some skips to reduce unloading times.
• Remain at least 2 metres away from staff and other site users in line with social distancing measures.
• Be physically able to lift and carry anything you bring. Staff at the centres will not be able to assist you with any unloading. Please remember that both North Berwick and Macmerry have steps to access the skips.
• Make sure only one adult per vehicle should get out of the vehicle to unload and dispose of items.
• Keep all children within your vehicle at all times for their safety and protection.
• Be aware that pedestrian access to the recycling centres is not permitted
• Note that last vehicle will be admitted at 6.15pm in line waste management licensing conditions.
• The 5 bag policy has now been relaxed for domestic and garden waste
• We are now accepting soil and rubble however please limit this to 5 bags per vehicle to help reduce queuing time.
• Cardboard can be recycled at all sites however this may be suspended to ease queues if required.

There will be traffic management systems at all recycling centres both inside and on the approach to the centres. Due to the number of residents expected at the recycling centres queues may quickly form with waiting times so residents are asked to consider if their trip is truly essential.

Legally we cannot accept waste after 6.30pm, the gates will be closed at 6.15pm to allow cars already inside the confines of the recycling centre to unload however no cars queuing outside will be admitted onto the site.

Although we intend to still accommodate vans and trailers before 10:30 each morning these vehicles must follow the same 5 standard refuse sack limit amount as cars.

Please note that for the immediate period after we reopen we cannot accept any construction / commercial waste or cardboard on the site. Vehicles carrying commercial waste have other disposal outlets available to them to dispose of their waste legally.