Essex Recycling Centres change opening times from 9 January

The opening times of recycling centres in Essex are changing from 9 January 2012 to reduce inefficiency and overlap with kerbside collection services.  Essex is now one of the best recycling counties in the UK with a record 50% rate in 2010/11 thanks to huge investment made by Essex County Council and district and boroughs in kerbside recycling collection services.

With residents embracing the opportunity to recycle at the doorstep there has been a fall in usage of recycling centres. These changes to opening times are designed to address that.

Two sites - St Osyth and High Ongar - will close permanently on Sunday 8 January 2012. Both of these sites are close to larger neighbouring sites which have spare capacity to deal with additional waste.

11 recycling centres across the county will remain open seven days a week, with 10 staying open at their most popular times, including weekends.

The changes follow a review of the service which involved detailed analysis of customer usage, site capacity and likely customer impact of the changes.

County Councillor Kevin Bentley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Waste said: "Essex is one of the pacesetting counties for recycling, and we want to continue improving on this while offering the very best service for our residents.

"By making these changes now we are reducing inefficiency and overlap with kerbside collections, while ensuring that residents have access to a recycling centre when they need it, at a time that is convenient to them."

More about Recycling and Rubbish services in Colchester Borough here

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Media contact: Michael Page, 01245 434383

Notes to Editors:

In the current year Essex County Council will be investing £5million in kerbside recycling services,  from 2012/13 onwards this investment will increase to around £7 million per annum

These changes are being implemented following consultation with site staff and discussion with district and borough councils

These changes will result in an estimated cost saving of around £700k per year