Helensburgh's new recycling centre: here's all you need to know

The facility on Helensburgh's pier head car park will open on Monday, June 1 – subject to confirmation from the First Minister on Thursday that Scotland will be moving in to phase one of the country's route map out of the Covid-19 crisis.

The council announced last week that the temporary centre would be set up at the pier head car park to manage traffic safely.

Concern had been expressed by some residents that traffic queuing to use the normal site at Blackhill would create major traffic congestion on Sinclair Street and the A818.

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In an update announced on Wednesday, the council said the facility on the pier would only be a "short-term" arrangement, and that it hoped to resume normal operations at the Blackhill site within a fortnight.

A spokesperson said: "The change of site is to manage traffic safely in what we expect will be a busy time when customer demand to use the centre is high. We would ask residents to use it only if it is absolutely necessary until the initial demand has died down.

"We will put a traffic management system in place to keep customers safe and ensure social distancing.

"When you approach the pier you will see the traffic management laid out – please follow the signage and the directions of staff on site.

"There are some limits on how you can use the site and the things you can take there.

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"This is only short-term. The Blackhill site will go back to normal operations, with all the usual recycling options, as soon as it is safe to do so – we hope no later than a fortnight after opening."

Opening times will be as follows:

Monday-Friday: 9.30am-5.30pm

Saturday and Sunday: 10am-4pm

Last entry to the site will be 30 minutes before closing time. This gives time for the vehicles queuing to have the contents unloaded.

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If you do plan to visit the centre, the council is asking that you give yourself plenty of time.

What you can take

- Domestic/general waste and garden waste

- For the initial period there will be no containers available for recycling paper, cardboard and plastics

What you can’t take

- Electrical items/white goods

- Large items of furniture

- Hazardous materials like asbestos, gas cylinders and tyres

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The council's spokesperson continued: "Cars will be allowed into the temporary civic amenity area on a one-in, one-out basis.

"Please be patient and stay within your car until you are directed to an unloading point.

"For an initial period only cars will be allowed on the temporary site. This will allow more customers to use the site safely.

"We will not be able to accept trailers, vans or commercial traffic on site at this time.

"If the site becomes too busy it will need to close again."

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Full details of how the site will operate can be found on the council website – click here for more information.

Councillor Robin Currie, the authority's policy lead for housing, roads and infrastructure services, added: “Central to our plans for reopening the amenity sites is making sure our customers and staff are properly protected.

"Please be prepared for the site to be busy and for there to be some delay.

"The restrictions we have put in place are for safety and to help as many people as possible use the sites at what will be a very busy time.

“Like you, we want to get things back to normal as soon as possible and we are working hard to do that.

"Meantime, it will help us enormously if you can follow the rules and be patient.”

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ENDS