This is when the tip will reopen in South Shields as council prepares for ‘essential waste only’

South Tyneside Council will relaunch the Recycling Village at Middlefields Industrial Estate in Tyne Dock from Monday, May 11, for essential waste only, with restrictions including a number plate system to decide access.

The council has been in discussions with waste contractor SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK to work within the guidelines from Public Health England.

Councillor Joan Atkinson, lead member for area management and community safety, urged people to be patient as the service returned.

She said: "We fully appreciate that the temporary closure of the Recycling Village has placed extra pressures on households and we know that people are very keen to see this service back open again.

“We want to reassure our residents that we are working hard to implement safe working practices at the Recycling Village that enable us to meet social distancing guidelines and ensure the safety of both staff and site visitors when it reopens on Monday.”

Measures will include initially limiting visits to cars only, with one other person from the same household allowed to help if an item is busy.

Four ‘tipping zones’ to be set up to dispose of bagged general household waste, garden waste, wood and cardboard.

The van and trailer permit scheme will remain suspended due to site modifications, but access for vans, pick-ups and trailers will be reviewed.

To help manage demand and queues, car registration system will be in place, with those with odd numbers in them allowed to visit on odd calendar days and those with even numbers will be allowed on even calendar days, with odd numbers allowed this Monday.

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

The village, which has been closed since Tuesday, March 24 following Government guidance on essential travel, will be open every day with hours extended to 8am to 8pm, for a minimum of two weeks.

Sunderland City Council has also announced plans to reopen its site at Beach Street, Deptford, on Monday.

For further information visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling.