Busy start for Household Waste Recycling Centre booking system

In line with current Government guidance on Covid-19 and to protect the safety of staff and residents, Hartlepool Borough Council has introduced the booking system and other measures to enable it to plan and safely manage access to the Burn Road site. Please note - residents without a booking will not be allowed access.

The HWRC will be open from 9am until 3.30pm Wednesdays to Sundays and visits will be limited to ten minutes.

Wednesday to Saturday of this week are now fully booked but some places are still available for this Sunday and there are plenty of places available after that.

Residents can book online by clicking here or by calling the Council’s Contact Centre on (01429) 523333.

So far, 150 residents have left feedback for the new online system, rating it on average 4.7 out of 5, with the most frequent comments being that it is easy to use and simple to follow.

Due to layout changes at the HWRC 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 residents’ grey bins)
• Large electrical items (fridge, freezers, televisions etc.)

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

• Providing a copy of a document showing their current address, for example 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 and vans (under two metres in height and without business markings i.e. logos) only – no trailers will be allowed, and there will be strictly no pedestrian access.

It’s important for residents with a booking to remember that they must 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 and 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, 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: “We are very pleased to hear that residents are finding the online booking system easy and simple to use.

“Not surprisingly, there has been a lot of take-up of the places available for the first few days, but there are plenty of places available after that.

“I would, however, remind people again 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, the HWRC may need to close again without notice.”