Confusion reigns over what is "essential rubbish" as Northamptonshire's tips get ready to reopen

Confused Council Tax payers who have waited eight weeks for Northamptonshire's rubbish tips to open are now not sure if they are allowed to use them.

Six of the county's household waste recycling centres will be unlocked on Monday morning with the rest to follow on Tuesday and Wednesday.

But confused residents queued up to criticise the County Council on the Chronicle & Echo Facebook page after it was revealed the tips will be open for "essential rubbish" only,

Jenny Bonsor, from Northampton, said: "Surely its essential if you have loads of rubbish and living with kids?

"What an absolute waste of time. I've actually been looking forward to the tips opening but I'm not queuing for ages and then getting told it's not essential and go home."

And Jade Howes, also from Northampton, added: "How can they judge what’s essential and what’s not!

"If someone turns up with a load of cardboard it may not be seen as essential but it’s a great fire hazard. Shocking poor preparation and clearly the council doesn’t give a monkeys about the residents who will be queuing. If this was planned correctly it would be managed by keeping queues down and the public safe."

Northamptonshire County Council announced last week that the county's tips would be reopening from Monday (May 18), making them among the last in the country to reopen.

But on Thursday, Cllr Jason Smithers, county council cabinet member for highways and place, revealed: "We are asking Northamptonshire to use that fantastic common sense that's been shown over the last few months and if it's not essential then don't come because we just want essential waste that can cause hazards to health.

"We will be going down the lines to check if your waste is essential "

But Sarah Higgs hit back: "What the heck is "essential" rubbish? Rubbish is rubbish. We need the tips open, the amount of fly tipping going on!"

And Keely Smith added: "I don’t understand the mentality of this! We can clearly all look forward to even more fly-tipping — which is a health and safety hazard."

Paul Pinckard, from Northampton, summed it up: "Best not go to the tip, I think.

"You spend half an hour loading up, back and forth getting in a sweat and messing up the car, drive to the tip and maybe queue for an hour, then face some sort of interrogation as to type of rubbish you have to be then turned away ... that's going to end well isn't it. Don't bother!"

The Chronicle & Echo has contacted Northamptonshire County Council seeking clarification over what will be considered "essential rubbish."

Six of the county's nine household waste recycling centres are back in business on Monday (May 18) after closing for eight weeks during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Council bosses have enlisted the help of police and traffic wardens to control expected queues, numbers entering each site will be strictly controlled to allow social distancing, only one person is allowed out of a vehicle at once and staff will not be able to help lift bulky items.

Each tip will only open on its usual days, so anyone heading to Northampton's Sixfields site must wait until Tuesday while Kettering and Rushden will only open for the first time on Wednesday.

Northants' nine HWRCs will be open from 10am–6pm on their usual opening days as follows:

Monday: Brixworth, Corby, Daventry, Ecton, Towcester, Wellingborough.

Tuesday: Corby, Daventry, Sixfields, Wellingborough.

Wednesday: Kettering, Rushden, Sixfields.

Thursday: Brixworth, Ecton, Kettering, Rushden, Towcester.

Friday: Brixworth, Corby, Daventry, Ecton, Kettering, Rushden, Sixfields, Towcester, Wellingborough.

Saturday & Sunday: Brixworth, Corby, Daventry, Ecton, Kettering, Rushden, Sixfields, Towcester, Wellingborough.