PR 2332

IMPROVED RECYCLING CENTRE FOR BASINGSTOKE

Basingstoke residents can look forward to a new expanded and improved Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) when construction begins next month.

The new HWRC will be built on the existing site in Wade Road, but will have more bins, double the number of parking spaces, increased recycling facilities and will be quicker and easier to use than the existing site.

Basingstoke HWRC is one of the busiest in the county and queues of residents eager to recycle are common over the summer months. The expanded site will make use of an unused area next to the existing facility, and create a `mirror image' alongside. Construction will begin on 3 October and is scheduled to be completed by March 2006.

During construction, a smaller temporary HWRC will be in operation within the existing site for a period of approximately five months to allow building work to take place. This will mean certain waste types will not be accepted at the site for that time due to a lack of space. Items such as soil and rubble, electrical equipment (except fridges) and wood will not be accepted for that time, while trailers will also not be allowed onto the temporary site. Platform steps will need to be used to access the bins on the temporary site.

A leaflet detailing the temporary arrangements and including suggestions for how to recycle unaccepted items not acceptable temporarily is available from the site itself or from the County Council Information Centre near Festival Place. The restricted service will begin on Monday 19 September 2005.

Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Environment (South and Resource Management), Councillor Tim Knight, said: "The new HWRC will be a big improvement for the residents of Basingstoke. It should be quicker, easier and more convenient to use - and hopefully will provide increased opportunities to recycle."

Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Environment (North and Spatial Strategy), Councillor Jonathan Glen, added: "We apologise for any inconvenience experienced during the construction, however we have planned this to happen during the winter when the site is least busy, so I hope householders will bear with us."

Notes to editors:

Waste types that will not be accepted

Recommended action

Newspapers, magazines, plastic bottles, food tins, drinks cans, cardboard

Please use your kerbside recycling collection, or a nearby recycling bank.

Glass bottles and jars, textiles

Please use a nearby recycling bank (for example, your local supermarket).

Wood, soil, rubble, electronic equipment, tyres

Please use another HWRC. Nearest sites are Winchester (20 miles), Alton (12 miles), Hartley Wintney (10 miles) or Andover (23 miles).

Cement bonded asbestos

This is a restricted waste, so must either be collected by an asbestos removal contractor (see Yellow Pages), or taken to the HWRC in Andover (23 miles) or Portsmouth (47 miles).

The temporary HWRC will still be able to take the following items: Bulky household waste, furniture items, fridges, green garden waste, metal, gas bottles, hazardous household waste (e.g. garden pesticides), household batteries and engine oil. The full range of waste items will once again be accepted when the new site opens in March 2006.

ENDS

For further information please contact: Julia Herron on 01962 846006
julia.herron@hants.gov.uk
16/09/2005