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During these peak usage times, residents are being advised that some of the Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) are experiencing levels of high demand, which may occasionally lead to short-term closures or queuing at sites.

A spokesperson for 91��Ƭ��County Council, said: “We know residents rely on our Household Recycling Centres and understand how frustrating it can be when sites are busy or, on occasion, have to close at short notice due to seasonal and weekend peaks, which are mainly weather dependent.

Any temporary closures are always a last resort and are only made for safety or essential operational reasons, such as safely emptying containers at our older, non split sites at times when more rubbish has been disposed.

We are working closely with our contractors to keep sites open wherever possible and minimise disruption when pressures arise, and are reviewing layouts, container movements and staffing arrangements, to help reduce the likelihood of short-notice closures and improve the overall experience for residents

Residents are encouraged, where possible, to visit during quieter mid week periods and to pre-sort their waste before travelling to site. Simple steps like this help vehicles move through sites more quickly and reduce congestion both within and around our Household Recycling Centres.”

At peak times, service vehicles delivering empty containers or removing full ones can also be delayed by traffic.

Opening hours at all Household Recycling Centres are set through planning permission conditions.

In addition, the physical size and layout of each site limits the number of vehicles that can be accommodated safely at any one time.

In recent years, changes in waste legislation have increased the number of materials that must be collected separately. Alongside general recycling and residual waste, HRCs now accept a wider range of items including small and large waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), wood, scrap metal and, most recently, waste upholstered domestic seating.

Each material requires a dedicated container, which reduces flexibility on site and can make managing space more challenging during busy periods.

At peak times, service vehicles delivering empty containers or removing full ones can also be delayed by traffic.

Residents are also reminded of the importance of reducing waste where possible. Producing less waste helps ease pressure on Household Recycling Centres, supports more efficient operations, and contributes to a more sustainable Worcestershire.

More information on Worcestershire’s Household Recycling Centres, including opening times and accepted materials, can be found on the dedicated pages of our website.