Are Local Tips Coming Out Of Lockdown?

With household waste levels increasing, local authority collections reducing their services and fly-tipping on the increase across the UK, the need for tips to reopen their gates has never been so apparent.

Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick recently told the Commons that he expects tips to reopen “within weeks”, whilst the Prime Minister’s comments about the UK being “past the peak” of the coronavirus pandemic suggested that lockdown restrictions are due to be reevaluated.

Whilst some tips (such as Manchester) have already opened during the first weekend of May, there are questions around how they will cope with the increased demand that has built up over a period of weeks. Without a doubt, staff will need to be provided with the essential PPE and be able to work at a safe distance from members of the public as well as each other.

These aren’t the only safeguarding measures which are due to be implemented though. An appointment booking system was deemed impractical for the number of residents under the Greater Manchester Combined Authority but is reportedly in development in Lancashire. The BBC reported that instead, the Greater Manchester authorities are implementing a system which schedules odd and even number plates separately in order to manage the demand.

Other systems being put in place include the limiting of vehicles and reduced opening hours in Hampshire, a stewarded one-way system in the Wirral and only certain waste streams being accepted in Surrey.

Meanwhile, many other local authorities are suggesting that a proof of address will be needed in order to deter people from travelling outside their immediate area to try and beat the queues or access an operational tip.

On May 7th, Birmingham opened 4 Household Recycling Centres in Kings Norton, Perry Barr, Sutton Coldfield and Tyseley. Proof of residence is required and a ‘view the queue’ webcam is available to help plan essential visits.

However, not all local authorities are convinced that now is the right time to be reopening, with concerns over the definition of “essential travel” and if a trip to the tip would qualify as such. There’s also the issue of the time needed to implement social distancing and contactless precautions wherever possible, in a similar way to those adopted by supermarkets.

Elsewhere, a source “close to the Government” told The Metro that local authority tips would reopen if the police confirmed that they were prepared for the public to be tipping 6 weeks worth of waste.

Of course, it’s not simply a case of 6 weeks worth of waste. The Guardian reported an increase of between 20% and 50% in the production of household waste due to the increased time that families are spending at home and the uptake in DIY and home improvements.

With so much uncertainty, it remains to be seen if tips will reopen immediately or if a few weeks worth of planning is still in order. In either case, waste removal is a critical service which ensures that environmental hazards are reduced and personal safety is increased.

Whether the line at your local tip is queuing around the corner, or if your recycling station still has its doors shut, Clearabee is here to help you with your waste removal. Our rapid-reaction man and van clearance service operate nationwide, with same-day collections available to make sure you can get rid of your rubbish quickly and efficiently.

Clearabee offers complete peace of mind when it comes to waste disposal so you can be confident that you’re not contributing to the fly tipping total. After each waste collection, we provide our customers with a digital Waste Transfer Note which details the rubbish which has been removed. We can even let customers know which local Waste Transfer Station has received their unwanted waste and how much was recycled or diverted from landfill (our average rate is more than 95%).

If it’s a question of home improvements and DIY projects that have produced unwanted waste and you don’t want to add to the burden upon the local authority tips, then Clearabee can help here, too. Our skip hire service is fast, efficient and with fixed prices. Our friendly office team can advise you on exactly which skip would be the most suitable for you as well as what can and can’t be removed in a skip. We can even guide you through the process if you haven’t used a skip before or you can use our hassle-free online booking system if you know exactly what you’re looking for.

If it’s freedom you’re after, then rubbish removal via our skip bags is an increasingly popular choice. More flexible than a skip (in every way imaginable), our skip bags can be delivered on the next working day via the post. The flat-packed bags can be stored until you’re ready to fill them and they’re perfect for anything from a single bulky item like a washing machine to a variety of waste streams such as a shed clear out.

Regardless of what happens with the tips, you can beat the queues with Clearabee.

Removing rubbish. It’s what we do.

About Clearabee

Based in our Birmingham Head Office, Clearabee operates a nationwide on-demand rubbish clearance and waste removal service. Over 300 directly employed staff and 120 vehicles make up our Man and Van, Skip Bag, skip hire and sofa removal services which all operate in London, Bristol, Leeds and throughout the nation.

We are immensely proud to consider some of the UK’s leading brands as our exclusive customers, including Wren Kitchens, Homeserve, DFS, Sofology and the CO-OP. For 3 years running, Clearabee has ranked as the fastest-growing waste management company in Europe and has also featured on The Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track for the last two years.