03 November 2022

Insch, Inverurie, and Westhill household recycling centres retain booking system

Aberdeenshire Council’s Garioch Area Committee made the decision on Tuesday 1 November to retain the booking system across its three household recycling centres in Insch, Inverurie, and Westhill.

This is the latest in a series of decisions around trialling changes to household recycling centre bookings that begin on Monday 28 November. 

Discussions at the Garioch Area Committee included keeping trade waste out of household recycling centres and further reducing incidents of fly tipping while making it as easy as possible for people to recycle.

The booking system was first introduced as a traffic management tool and as a protective measure for customers and staff when centres opened after the Covid lockdown in March of 2020. The introduction of the booking system also resulted in a reduction of waste typically associated with trade.

Reports of fly tipping have reduced across Aberdeenshire since 2020, and 2022 is on track to have fewer reports of fly tipping than 2021.

In October, the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee also made the decision to fully remove the booking system on a trial basis in the Banff & Buchan, Buchan, and Marr areas from Monday 28 November.

As part of that same trial, from Monday 28 November, household recycling centres in Formartine will allow non-booking days each Wednesday and Saturday only.

The Kincardine & Mearns Area Committee is scheduled to consider options for recycling centres in its area on Tuesday 8 November.

Household recycling centres, and their booking system, are for household waste only. Businesses can sign up to a trade waste collection service or use the council’s business waste drop-off service.

Reflecting on the meeting, Garioch Area Committee Chair Marion Ewenson said: “We have very busy household recycling centres in Inverurie and Westhill, and less so in Insch. The booking system has certainly solved traffic issues in Inverurie where cars would restrict access through Oldmeldrum Road.

“This is also a busy area for traders and having to book helps us stop trade waste coming into household recycling centres, which in turn supports budget savings for the council.”

Garioch Area Committee Vice Chair Jim Gifford said: “Ease of access to household recycling centres is important but we do have to balance that with other considerations such as trade and traffic if we are to maximise recycling. 

“The system works well and has improved over time; I have certainly found it easy to use. Managing the flow of vehicles into and out of household recycling centres as people go about their recycling is easier with a booking system and that also makes the area safer for both customers and staff.”

Please visit recycling.aberdeenshire.gov.uk to make a household recycling centre booking. This can be done up to seven days in advance.

If residents with household waste are unable to book online, please ask a friend or relative to book for you or call our Wasteline on 03456 081207.