Household appliances and electrical goods can be recycled at South Lanarkshire’s recycling centres from today (Thursday, June 11).
Vans, no larger than a Ford Transit, will also now be able to visit the site on Tuesdays and Thursdays to allow larger and bulkier items to be recycled.
Residents will still be able to dispose of general waste and cardboard and garden waste can still be recycled at the council’s six recycling centres in Carluke, Eastfield, Larkhall, East Kilbride, Blantyre and Strathaven.
Trailers will not be allowed on site and residents will need to bring ID with their address as the centres remain in use for domestic waste only for the time being.
Each site will be split up into bays with three skips for general waste, cardboard and garden waste to ensure physical distancing and limit the number of people on site at one time.
An additional bay will be set up for electrical items. This bay will be used for wide a range of items including kettles, hair dryers, TVs, lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners, white goods and fridges.
Two people from each household will be able to exit vehicles to offload items but staff will not be able to assist with unloading vehicles.
Sites may be busy and residents are asked to only visit if they need to. Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should not visit recycling centres.
The changes follow the reopening of the six centres on June 1 after arrangements were put in place to protect the health of residents using the facilities and staff during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Michael McGlynn, executive director of community and enterprise resources, said: “I want to thank everyone for their patience as we have reintroduced these facilities, and the overwhelming majority of people using our centres have been very understanding and co-operative. With their help, we have been able to get the service running again with minimal issues.
“With Viridor, who run five of our six centres, we have been listening to local people to find out what they want us to do next. So I am pleased to say that we are now in a position to extend the service further to permit disposal of electrical items.
“We will also allow vans two days a week to help people get rid of household waste including these items, which can be larger. We will now also allow two people from the same household to exit vehicles, but everyone must stay in their own bay to maintain physical distancing, and unfortunately staff cannot help with unloading.”
The council will continue to review arrangements in consultation with users, staff and Viridor.
