Don't forget to have your say on recycling and waste site proposals

People urged to comment before consultation closes on 23 Septembe

Residents have just a few days left to comment on proposed changes to the opening times of recycling and household waste sites across the county.

The consultation runs until Monday 23 September 2019 and can be completed online at www.leicestershire.gov.uk/wastesitechangesOpens another website in new window .

The proposals – to reduce opening hours at the quietest times – would save an estimated £134,000 by the end of 2020/21.

The changes would affect just under six per cent of the 1.5 million visits made to the council’s waste sites each year. Currently, the site opens until 7pm on summer evenings and the proposals outline a move to close sites at 5pm.

The proposed changes to summer opening times are part of wider plans which aims to save £330,000 over the next six years, including:

• increasing re-use
• setting up a chargeable service for difficult-to-dispose of waste, such as car tyres and railway sleepers
• measures to prevent commercial fridges and freezers being disposed at the taxpayers’ expense.

We’re having to make difficult choices across the council in order to continue to make savings.

We’ve looked at many options across our recycling and household waste sites, including assessing what the impact would be on our site users and the potential savings.

We’re very committed to not closing any sites as that would have a significant impact for people. We’re reminding the public, voluntary groups and charities to have their say on these proposals.

Person:Blake Pain, cabinet member for environment and transport