Oxfordshire residents have been asked for their views on the county’s household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) – how to modernise the service, improve efficiency, and what they think could be done differently.
Oxfordshire County Council, which runs the seven sites, is consulting on potential changes to two policies – on waste acceptance and the van and trailer permit scheme – through a survey hosted on Let’s Talk Oxfordshire until 11 August.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said:
“We want to hear from as many people as possible about how and when they visit our HWRCs, what works for them and what could be done differently.
“These views will help shape our strategy for dealing with household waste in future years, so we would urge people to take part in the consultation – whether they use the centres regularly, occasionally, or even if they don’t currently.
“Our residents regularly top the national tables when it comes to recycling, but to maintain this and to contain costs, we are always looking at ways of reducing the amount of residual waste that is created.”
One longer-term option being explored is setting up shops to sell used items that are brought to the HWRCs. These could be on the sites or in separate locations, and could sell items such as bikes, clothes, furniture, and sports equipment.
Reducing the number of HWRCs is not being considered. However, the council is considering the potential for reduced opening hours and closures at some centres on their quietest days.
Views are also being sought on preferences for sorting recyclable waste from non-recyclable waste on or off site; whether access to Oxfordshire’s HWRCs should be limited to the county’s residents; and the types of vehicles and trailers that can access the sites to help reduce the amount of waste illegally brought in.
The HWRC booking system, which was approved in November but has yet to come into operation, will not be part of the discussion.
Councillor Roberts added:
“The cost of running our HWRCs has increased in recent years, due to extra environmental costs around the disposal of certain materials, new legislation, and a growing population. So, doing nothing is not an option.
“We know how important this service is to people, so we want to make sure any changes that are made work for them. Which is why it’s so important for residents, businesses, and other organisations to make sure their voices are heard.”
