Vans and trailers allowed at Recycling Centres and trade waste site to re-open

Cheshire West and Chester Council is now able again to allow trailers, pickups and vans to use its Household Waste Recycling Centres.

The trade site in Chester will also re-open later this month along with the Tattenhall HWRC site.

The HWRCs in Northwich, Neston, Winsford, Chester, Frodsham and Ellesmere Port reopened after the Government enabled travel to a HWRC to take place if storing waste at home is a risk to health and safety. 

When the sites first re-opened trailers, vans and pickups were not permitted so visitors could move quickly and smoothly through the sites to avoid long queues.

The change to the rules regarding trailers, pickups and vans is with immediate effect.  Trailer size limits do apply at each site so please check the web site before visiting. Both the trade site in Chester and the Tattenhall HWRC will open on Monday 8 June. 

Originally the Tattenhall site remained closed due to its size and location on the highway, which could have caused increased queues on nearby roads, but measures are now in place to allow the site to operate safely with new social distancing measures and traffic management.

Frodsham HWRC has returned to its previous operating arrangements – opening hours of 9am to 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. However, due to queues being experienced opening hours will be extended on Friday 5 and Friday 12 June and it will be open from 8am to 5pm.

Neston and Northwich HWRC have also returned to their normal operating arrangements, and the Council will continue to monitor number of visitors to Northwich which is busy towards the end of the day.

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport said: “The new operating arrangements at our HWRCs have been working well and I know many residents will be pleased we are now able to accommodate trailers, pickups and vans safely at our sites.

“Although these vehicles are allowed the sites are for the disposal of household waste only.  Our trade site will be opening soon for commercial waste disposal.

“I’d like to thank residents again for thinking twice about their journey and everyone who came to our HWRCs for following the social distancing rules and guidance from our staff. Safety remains a key priority and following social distancing guidance is essential.”

The primary centres at Winsford, Ellesmere Port and Chester are open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday between 8am and 6pm. Opening times will be subject to review as the pandemic continues.