Lutterworth recycling centre to remain closed due to ‘national pressures impacting waste sites’
Lutterworth Recycling Centre is to remain closed until further notice due to ‘national pressures impacting waste sites’, Leicestershire County Council has announced.
The site located on Moorbarns Lane was closed on Friday August 7 and is one of four waste recycling centres across Leicestershire that was temporarily closed earlier this month, alongside Bottesford, Oadby and Shepshed.
These closures have now been extended until further notice with the council saying that teams are currently working to try and clear waste and empty containers which have filled up in recent weeks due to ‘exceptionally high demand.’
Three major incidents have been declared during the last 48 hours at recycling centres across the country, which the authority says has ‘increased pressure’ on the sites that are still open.
Leicestershire County Council says these increased pressures have meant that two treatment facilities which process waste collected from Leicestershire cannot accept further material from the county.
The county council’s cabinet member for the environment and waste Adam Tilbury said the issue was ‘not unique’ to Leicestershire.
“The waste sector is currently experiencing significant pressure across the country, with a combination of site closures, treatment capacity issues and recent fires affecting the whole system,” Cllr Tilbury said.
“Unfortunately, those challenges are now having a direct impact on the facilities that handle Leicestershire's waste, with two of the treatment sites we rely on unable to take any more material because they are struggling to move waste on quickly enough.
“While we appreciate the inconvenience this temporary closure will cause residents, taking this action is necessary to ensure waste can continue to be managed safely and responsibly while we work with our contractors and partners to restore services as soon as possible.”
Lount Recycling and Household Waste Site, which is currently closed for improvement works, will also remain shut until further notice.
The recycling centres across Leicestershire which remain open are located at Market Harborough and Kibworth, as well as further afield at Barwell, Coalville, Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, Mountsorrel and Whetstone.
Leicestershire County Council also announced that due to the current spell of hot weather, all open recycling centres will operate with reduced opening hours, closing at 4pm on Wednesday August 12 and Thursday August 13.
Cllr Tilbury added: “The very hot weather means we also need to take sensible steps to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone working at and visiting our sites.
“We appreciate residents' patience and understanding while these measures are in place."