Council decision on Helston Waste and Recycling Centre during third national lockdown

Cornwall Council has issued an update on Household Waste and Recycling Centres as the country enters a third lockdown - including Helston's tip.

They have issued a statement stating that "all HWRCs in Cornwall are remaining open during the current lockdown."

However, they are still operating a number plate system to protect the wellbeing of site staff and residents.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council added:

"We anticipate high demand and there are likely to be queues. We may have to ask you to come back at a later date if queues become too long. Please sort your material out at home to limit the time you have to spend on the site."

What's the latest guidance? Well the council said:

DO NOT visit if you have Covid-19 symptoms or should be self-isolating

We are restricting when people can visit their HWRC by operating a vehicle number plate system to limit the number of people visiting each day.

You should only visit the HWRC on a corresponding day for your vehicle.

If there are long queues and you try to enter the site on a wrong day, site staff may turn you away and ask you to return on the correct date. The decision made by the staff is final.

If the last digit of your vehicle number plate is even– 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 - then you should only visit a HWRC on an even date of the month, e.g. 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th etc.

For example, if your number plate is RL34 JGS, the last digit is 4 – an even number – so you may visit on even dates of the month.

Even numbers include the number 0 (zero).

If the last digit of your number plate is odd - 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 - then you should only visit an HWRC on an odd date of the month, e.g. 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th etc.

If you have a personalised number plate the last digit of your number plate indicates the date you may visit the sites.

HWRCs are accepting all the different kinds of materials they normally take. HWRCs do not accept trade waste.

We are accepting chargeable waste such as hardcore, soil, tyres, plasterboard or asbestos. Card payments only.

Please hang onto anything that is reusable until charities are able to take them. There will be people in need of your reusable items.

There might be queues to use the HWRCs. Some of the sites have traffic management measures in place such as changes to the route you access the sites.

Trailers are allowed onto the sites, but please check that your trailer complies with the vehicle permit scheme.

Remember to stay in your vehicle while queuing to comply with social distancing and for your own safety.

Please follow ALL instructions given to you when you arrive at your HWRC and observe 2 metre distancing at all times. Respect your HWRC staff. They are key workers doing a difficult job at a difficult time. We will not tolerate any abuse of our staff.

If you have a vehicle that requires a permit to access your HWRC, please display it clearly in your windscreen when you arrive at the site. If your vehicle requires a permit but you don't have a valid one or you don't display it properly, you will not be allowed to use the HWRC.

Only one person may get out of your vehicle at any one time unless you have a large/heavy item that requires two of you to move it safely from your vehicle to the HWRC container. Please let the site staff know upon entry to the site.

Please ensure you only bring waste you can move from your vehicle to the HWRC container. We have told our HWRC staff to follow social distancing guidelines to the letter at all times.

Helston HWRC will be open from 9am to 4pm, seven days a week.

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