Edinburgh recycling centres: When will recycling centres reopen as lockdown restrictions are eased?

Centres will reopen on an appointment only basis

The date that Edinburgh’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) will reopen has been revealed, with changes set to be in place to help ensure the safety of staff and the public.

HWRCs will reopen from Monday, June 1, on an appointment only basis.

Edinburgh City Council say this is to minimise crowding and help staff and customers to maintain physical distancing. They are also encouraging the public only to visit if necessary and if waste can’t be stored safely at home as an early rush is expected.

This is the date Seafield, and other Edinburgh HWRCs, will open

Booking time slots

Time slots can be booked online from tomorrow afternoon (Thursday, 28 May) though will be limited to one per household for the first two weeks of reopening. Anyone without an appointment will not be permitted to enter recycling centres. Full details of restrictions at each of the city’s three sites will be available online.

Special uplifts

Special uplifts will also resume on Monday, 1 June, and the council be accepting online bookings for the collection of bulky items from tomorrow (Thursday, 28 May), with a maximum of five items per household.

Both services were suspended in March due to staff shortages and physical distancing guidance, as well as Scottish Government advice against non-essential journeys. However, in light of changes to guidance from the Scottish Government HWRCs at Seafield, Sighthill and Craigmillar can reopen.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We’ve been working extremely hard to deliver services as close to normally as possible and, as of Monday, HWRCs will be reopening, on an appointment-only basis. However, it’s likely recycling centres will be extremely busy at the beginning, so please only visit if you are unable to continue storing your waste safely at home and ensure you book an arrival slot if you are coming.

“It’s essential that we look after the health of all those who work in and visit our HWRCs, and there will be changes to the way they operate for the foreseeable future to allow us to do this. I’m grateful to residents for their patience as we have adjusted to this unprecedented situation, and I’d like to thank them for holding on to any bulky items, and those who continue to do so during the initial busy period.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “I’m pleased that, following Scottish Government guidance and as changes to allow crews to maintain physical distancing have bedded in, we’ve been able to reintroduce these services while ensuring the safety of our staff.

“It’s thanks to the efforts of our waste team that we have been able to resume this service, albeit on a reduced basis, and I hope that residents join me in recognising the commitment they’ve made to keeping the city moving during this difficult time. Please help us to protect workers’ safety, and your own, by following our guidance and only visiting HWRCs if it is absolutely necessary.”

What vehicles will be permitted at the centres?

A dedicated online booking system for HWRCs will be available on the Council website from tomorrow afternoon though it won’t be possible to book visits over the phone. During the initial period only cars will be permitted on-site, no vans or trailers, and staff will not be able to help unload vehicles so people are being urged to only take what they can carry.

Queuing is expected at each HWRC upon reopening and there will be traffic management in place, including at Seafield, where the old entrance on Fillyside Road will be temporarily used for the first three weeks.

The special uplift service is expected to be busy during the first weeks, so there may be a wait for collections – check the council website for updates.

Residents can book an uplift on the Council website though not currently over the phone while phone lines are kept free so contact centre staff can deal with emergency calls. Special uplifts are charged at £5 per item and details of what we can and can’t collect are available online.

Garden waste collections were reintroduced from 12 May after they were suspended in April, while glass recycling collections, which were suspended in March, recommenced from 28 April.

Further information on changes to bin collections and other services can be found on the council website.

Full addresses of HWRCs:

Seafield HWRC, 76 Seafield Road, EH6 7LW

Craigmillar HWRC, Old Dalkeith Road, EH16 4TB

Sighthill HWRC, Bankhead Avenue, EH11 4EA.