Hampshire residents are being asked what they would like from their Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs), and how they use them.
Hampshire County Council is looking at different and innovative options for running the HWRC service, partly in response to continuing reductions in Government funding, but also to see how a modern, value-for-money service can best be achieved for Hampshire’s residents.
Councillor Seán Woodward, Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at Hampshire County Council, said: “Services across the Council have to find savings, and this is no exception. We have an excellent record for diverting waste from landfill in Hampshire, and we want to keep it that way.“
“We’ve looked carefully at how residents are using HWRCs, the frequency of use and the type of waste disposed. We have some options that would either save money or generate income to offset costs, to ensure the service is sustainable in the long-term. What we need to do now, is find out from Hampshire’s residents what they think of these options, and hear what’s most important to people.“
Comments are invited on six main areas within the consultation:
- Reviewing the number, location and usage of HWRCs and their suitability to meet the needs of communities now, and in the future.
- Introducing measures to reduce the amount of trade waste wrongly disposed of at sites, which is expensive for the Council to dispose of
- Accepting waste and recyclable material from small local businesses for a fee
- Recovering the costs of the disposal of bulky and hazardous DIY waste such as soil, rubble and plasterboard, which is not classified as household waste and is expensive to dispose of
- Reviewing opening times to reduce site management costs
- Working with charities or communities to increase re-use of furniture and other items, to further reduce the amount sent to disposal.
The consultation runs from 2 June to 22 August. To take part, please complete the questionnaire online. Alternatively, paper copies of the consultation are available from District Council offices and Hampshire libraries. They can also be requested by emailing:hwrc.consultation@hants.gov.uk or calling: 0845 603 5634.