Bedford Borough Council ends HWRC appointment system

Bedford Borough Council has made plans to end the booking system for the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) on Barkers Lane, so residents will soon be able to visit the site during normal opening hours without an appointment.

The online HWRC booking system will stop taking new bookings at 11.59pm on Saturday 9 October, with residents being able to attend the site without an appointment from 9am on Monday 11 October.

With limited space for vehicles to wait on site, residents may be turned away if the site is busy in order to prevent traffic from queuing on Barkers Lane. It is expected that Fridays and weekends will be the busiest times, particularly 9am to 1pm and 3.30pm to 5pm, so the Council is asking residents to plan ahead and try and to avoid these peak times, if possible.

Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for Waste, said, "I would like to thank all of our council and HWRC workers who have worked hard to keep this important public facility open during the pandemic. The temporary online booking system was extremely effective and enabled us to manage the site to keep staff and residents safe."

To ensure the site is only used by Bedford Borough residents, visitors to the HWRC will need to provide a current council tax bill, utility bill or a photo ID that shows proof of address to site staff on arrival. If the photo ID does not show an address, visitors must provide an additional form of proof of address in their name.

The Council will also be reinstating the previous permit scheme, which requires those who are using a trailer or van or looking to dispose of DIY waste to obtain a permit before attending the site. Residents can get a permit by using the Council's online request system.

To request a permit and get more information about visiting the HWRC, go to https://www.bedford.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-waste/local-recycling-sites/household-waste-recycling-centre/