Book A Slot to visit Barkers Lane Tip from Monday 11 May

The Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) on Barkers Lane will reopen on Monday 11 May. Bookings to visit the site must be made in advance.

Given the ongoing seriousness of the coronavirus outbreak and Government guidance still in place there has had to be some changes to how the HWRC will operate, to make sure it can open in a safe way. Access to the tip will be via a one way system on Barkers Lane accessed only from Newnham Avenue.

To ensure the site is not overwhelmed and so that everyone can follow social distancing guidelines, anyone planning to visit must book a slot. There will be 15 minute slots available which must be booked at least a day before you plan to visit, and will be available to book up to 14 days in advance.

You will be asked to show your booking to a member of staff, it does not need to be printed; on a phone screen will be accepted. Anyone coming to the HWRC without a booking will be turned away.

If you visit, you will see that there is a new layout at the HWRC. This is to make sure that people do not have to walk past each other to get to the different bays, so they can keep social distancing.

Due to this new layout, larger vehicles will not be allowed to visit the HWRC to begin with. Initially, only cars, 4x4s and small vans, up to 1500kgs, will be allowed into the tip. This new layout also means that containers cannot be emptied or the site cleaned effectively during opening hours so the HWRC will be open from 9am-5pm, 7 days a week, to give staff time to do these tasks at the beginning and end of the day.

There will be a reduction in the types of waste that can be disposed of at the HWRC. The following items only can be accepted: 

• general rubbish
• garden waste
• recycling
• small electrical appliances
• small items of furniture

Any other waste including fridge/freezers, DIY waste or textiles will not be accepted as a number of disposal sites are still closed.

To ensure that everyone is safe and social distancing, site staff will not be able to help people unload items from their vehicles.

To book a slot to visit the HWRC, please call 01234 718013. For more information about visiting the site or how to book a slot, please visit www.bedford.gov.uk/hwrc

Bulky Waste Collections restart

Bulky waste collections will also be restarting on Monday 11 May.

If you have large items to dispose of, please use the Bulky waste collection service as large items of waste cannot be accepted at the HWRC at this time.

To book a bulky waste collection, please call 01234 718060. There is a cost of £37.20 for up to 5 items, and £57.40 for 6-12 items.

More information about bulky waste collections can be found online at www.bedford.gov.uk/recycling

New facility to dispose of garden waste

To help with any remaining backlog of garden waste, the Council is opening a new site in the Oasis Swimming Pool car park off Cardington Road, from Monday 11 May.

This site is for Bedford Borough residents only, and proof of address (such as a utility bill or Council Tax bill) will be required.

You will be able to bring garden waste, without appointment, to the site and empty any bags or containers of garden waste into large bins. The same types of green waste will be accepted as can currently go into the green lidded bin, eg grass cuttings, plants and weeds, flowers, prunings, hedge clippings, leaves and bark. No other types of waste will be accepted. 

Only cars, 4x4s, and small vans up to 1500kg will be able to use this service.

This facility will be open from 9am-5pm, from Monday 11 May for one week initially, then it will be reviewed.

Crush, squish and squash your recycling

Please continue to crush, squish, stomp on, tear up and make smaller anything you can to make more room, and put items into the recycling bin loose. The more space you can save in your recycling bin, the more you can fit in! 

If you still have extra recycling once you've squashed as much into your bin as you can, you can put it in a clear see-through sack or cardboard box (so it doesn't blow away), leave it next to the bin and we'll pick it up on your recycling collection day.

To seek further assistance with your recycling during these changes to services or to request orange sacks, residents can contact recycling@bedford.gov.uk  or 01234 718060.

Click here for more on bin collections and recycling

This bulletin has been sent to you by Recycling & Waste at Bedford Borough Council

Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP

environment.helpdesk@bedford.gov.uk

01234 718060