Concerns raised about recycling centres advance booking system

The new system comes in next month

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

A new pre-booking system for household waste recycling centres in West Northants has come under criticism.

West Northamptonshire Council announced this week that from next month, residents will need to book a slot before they use the six local authority run household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).

A new £75m 15-year contract was awarded in April to Doncaster-based FCC Environment (who also hold the North unitary HWRC contract) and since then changes have come in, which has seen the centres open every day, but with reduced daily hours from 10am to 4pm.

The authority says the new booking system is coming in to increase fairness and reduce pressure on local roads, but concerns have been raised by opposition councillors, who think it will impact on the availability of the centres.

Cllr Davenport (left) and Cllr Harris

Liberal Democrat group leader on WNC, councillor Jonathan Harris said complaint levels have already risen since the new contract came in this spring.

He said:

“I have never had so m…