How the registration plate odd/even days system works and new rules as South Shields tip reopens

After the coronavirus lockdown forced a seven-week closure, the Recycling Village which serves South Tyneside is set to welcome visitors again.
The Recycling Village on Middlefields Industrial Estate closed on Tuesday, March 24, but will open again on Monday, May 11.The Recycling Village on Middlefields Industrial Estate closed on Tuesday, March 24, but will open again on Monday, May 11.
The Recycling Village on Middlefields Industrial Estate closed on Tuesday, March 24, but will open again on Monday, May 11.

Just like others across the county, it closed on Tuesday, March 24, due to social distancing measures, as well as the Government’s message to stay at home and avoid all but essential travel.

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Now it has revised its advice and told councils they can reopen their Household Waste and Recycling centres, if social distancing can be maintained, with the council setting out the site with contractor Suez Recycling and Recovery Limited.

It has said the site will be run in accordance with Public Health England guidelines to help stop the spread of coronavirus and to protect the health and safety of staff and visitors.

Here’s what you need to know:

Odds or evens – reg plate is key

To help manage demand and keep queues to a minimum, car registration plates will be used to manage admission.

Registrations displaying an odd number will be permitted to visit on odd calendar days and those with even numbers will be allowed on even calendar days.

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For example, car reg AB29 CDE would be allowed visit on 1st, 3rd, 5th and so on.

Car registration number FG86 HJK would be allowed to visit on 2nd, 4th 6th and so on.

This starts on Monday, May 11, when only odd-numbered cars are permitted to attend.

Other cars will be turned away.

Cars only for now

The new measures being put in place include initially limiting the types of vehicle and number of people who can visit at any one time to help protect staff and residents and observe social distancing rules.

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The van and trailer permit scheme will remain suspended at this time due to site modifications, with only cars allowed on site initially.

Access for vans, pick-ups and trailers will be reviewed.

Rules on site

Only one person will be permitted outside their vehicle once on-site, unless the item is heavy then one other adult from the same household can help.

People must remain in their vehicle while queuing.

Once on-site, visitors will be able to dispose of their waste at one of four new ‘tipping zones’.

Each tipping zone will be cordoned off from each other, allowing for one car per zone to dispose of bagged general household waste, garden waste, wood and cardboard.

Staff will not be able to assist the public with unloading.

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South Tyneside residents may also be required to provide proof of residence.

What is and isn’t allowed?

There will be temporary restrictions on the types of waste permitted on site.

Only the following materials will be accepted at this time:

Residual waste

Garden waste

Woods

Cardboard.

The following materials will not be accepted at this time:

Rubble

Scrap metal

Heavy plastics

Carpets/mattresses

Waste oil/gas bottles/electrical items/white goods.

When is it open?

The Recycling Village will be open seven days a week, with opening hours temporarily extended, from 8am to 8pm, for a minimum of two weeks.

The Recycling Village Shop will remain closed for now, as will the charity banks and electrical drop off points.

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The borough’s household waste and recycling collections continue to run as normal, while the bulky waste collection service for larger household items and the garden clearance scheme remains available to residents for the removal of items including DIY dismantled sheds and garden furniture.

Stay away if you’re ill

Anyone in self-isolation or with COVID-19 symptoms must not visit under any circumstances.

Where households have had COVID-19 symptoms the waste should be left for 72-hours before being brought to the site, and the waste should be double-bagged.

For further information visit the council’s website at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling

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