New opening hours and charges at recycling centres

The changes are being brought by North Somerset Council to increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of money spent on sending waste to landfill.

From Saturday, Backwell will open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and Portishead will open every day except Tuesday.

Fees are being brought in for the disposal of construction and non-household waste. The first bag or hardcore or rubble can be tipped for free, but each subsequent bag will cost £2 and visitors will be asked to pay by card on arrival.

There will also be charges to dispose of asbestos, plasterboard, tyres and gas canisters.

Dedicated reuse areas have been set up in all three sites and people will soon be able to recycle hard plastics and plate glass.

In the next few months, small businesses will be able to use the centres at certain times and residents’ permits will be introduced to ensure the tips are only being used by people in North Somerset.

Webcams will also be installed so visitors can see how busy the site is before going to the tip. Cllr Peter Bryant, the council’s executive member for recycling and waste, said: “The changes being introduced are all part of the new contract we now have in place with Biffa.

“Following successive years of reductions in funding, we are having to make savings across the council so that we can continue to prioritise the work we do to support vulnerable adults and children.

“These small changes mean that residents will still be able to dispose of their household waste, recycling and garden waste free of charge at local recycling centres, and that charges will be made for items where recycling is not an option.

“Through the introduction of webcams, residents permits and access periods for small businesses, I am hopeful people will experience less queuing traffic when they visit the centres too.”

For a full list of charges and details on what items will be accepted at the sites, visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/recyclingcentres