ABC: Recycling centres to be discussed

A report on community recycling centres has been issued to councillors ahead of tonight’s (Thursday) virtual meeting.

The report considers the current position with regard to recycling and the preparation for reopening and sets outs what council officers say is a “preferred operating model” that could be implemented to allow the centres to reopen safely.

At present, the borough’s recycling centres remain closed. However, over the past few weeks clarity has been provided by Ministers through a set of guidelines which it is suggested, should be address prior to any formal decision to reopen being made.

As such council officers have proposed an initial operating model to see the borough’s four main sites (Armagh, Banbridge, Lurgan and Portadown) reopen.

The report states that services at these premises would be available to the general public on weekdays from 10am to 6pm.

A Saturday morning slot would, if these recommendation are approved by Council, be available only for health care and associated workers.

It is also suggested that initially waste is limited to black bag and potentially green waste and that only cars are to be permitted.

The need to limit the reopening to the four main recycling initially, is, the report claims, “based on a mix of waste product capacity and maximising the use of key staff (HGV drivers in the main)”.

The report concludes by stating that the implementation of this model is dependant on Council’s ability to redeploy staff and on the speed at which waste operators could get their service operational, ensuring that the vehicles are road worthy.

Given these considerations the report suggests it may take up to five working days from a decision being made to the actual reopening of the four sites.

This issue is due to be debated at tonight’s virtual council meeting.

The meeting is set to get underway at 6.30pm and members of the public can watch the debate by clicking here

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