Household Waste Recycling Centre to open for pre-booked visits

In line with current Government guidance on Covid-19 and to protect the safety of staff and residents, the authority is introducing a booking system and other measures to enable it to plan and safely manage access to the Burn Road site.

Residents without a booking will not be allowed access.

The HWRC will be open from 9am until 3.30pm, Wednesday to Sunday and visits will be limited to ten minutes. Due to layout changes to accommodate social distancing restrictions, the following types of waste will only be accepted initially:

• General household waste – up to 10 bags.
• Garden waste – up to 10 bags.
• Mattresses
• Cardboard
• Recycling (materials that would normally be placed in your grey bin)
• Large electrical items (fridge, freezers, televisions etc)

Residents will be able to book a visit from 2pm on Thursday May 7th by telephoning the Council’s Contact Centre on (01429) 523333.

From 8.30am on Monday May 11th, they will also be able to make bookings online at:  www.hartlepool.gov.uk/HWRCbookings

The HWRC will be open to Hartlepool residents only, and proof of address will need to be provided when booking. People can do this by:

• Providing a copy of a document showing their current address, including a driving licence, utility bill or bank statement; or
• Giving consent for their address to be validated with details already held on Council systems.

They will also need to confirm the vehicle they will be using, including the registration number, make and model. The site will be open to cars only, no vans or trailers will be allowed, and there will be strictly no pedestrian access.

Residents with a booking should go to the former Havelock Centre car park in Havelock Street, TS24 7LT (just off Mainsforth Terrace) approximately 10 minutes before their scheduled visit, where their booking details will be checked. Vehicles will then be sent on to the HWRC. To prevent traffic problems and ensure that the booking system can operate smoothly, queuing will not be permitted on Burn Road. Only 4 cars will be permitted access to the HWRC at any one time to ensure members of the public are not placed at risk, and it will be the responsibility of residents to ensure they arrive at their allocated times. The Council will not be able to accommodate missed appointments.

Only two adults per household will be allowed on site and 2 metre social distancing will be strictly enforced at all times. Staff will not be able to help with unloading vehicles. Children and animals will not be allowed out of the vehicles.

Anyone who is in self-isolation or displaying Covid-19 symptoms must not visit the HWRC under any circumstances, and where households have had members with virus symptoms, then waste should be double-bagged and left for at least 72 hours before being disposed of at the site.

Tony Hanson, the Council’s Assistant Director (Environment and Neighbourhood Services), said: “These are unprecedented times and the safety of the public and our employees is paramount. Therefore, we would ask that people remain patient with us and that staff are treated with respect. If it is not possible to maintain the safety of staff and the public the Council may be forced to close the site again. 

“Also, the Council is clear in its view that priority services must come first and if such services, including our kerbside household refuse collections, experience staff shortages as a result of Covid-19 cases then the site may need to close again without notice.”