WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has announced that they will open seven out of 11 Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) across the county for essential use only.

The waste and recycling centres are set to reopen on Monday, May 11 and includes the Quantry Lane site in Bromsgrove and the Crossgate Road site in Redditch.

The council says those who are self-isolating or are themselves or anyone in their household showing Covid-19 symptoms, must not visit the sites.

Strict social distancing measures will be in place at each site and there will be a number of restrictions.

These include limiting numbers of vehicles permitted entry to the sites at any time and therefore queues and delays are likely.

The social distancing measures at the sites will mean that staff cannot provide assistance.

To ensure the 2 metre rule is adhered to, access to each skip will be limited to one person at a time.

The council are asking anyone who may need to visit a Household Recycling Centre for essential use to look online at the restrictions that will be in place, and to check opening hours, before they visit.

The government’s view is the journeys to Household Recycling Centres must only be undertaken if your waste or recycling cannot be stored at home without causing risk of injury, health or harm, and cannot be disposed of safely by other means.

Councillor Tony Miller, cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, said: “Where possible, we advise residents to take measures to avoid creating waste but if they do, keep it at home if it is safe to do so.

"I would like to ask for the support of those who have to use the HRCs to help keep staff, other visitors and themselves safe by making sure they are aware of the social distancing and restrictions before they arrive at a site and abide by them whilst on site.

"These are not normal times so please be patient – the way we are operating is different from the way that we did before lockdown and it is for everyone’s safety.”