'Orderly' queues as Northampton residents resist a stampede to take rubbish to reopened Sixfields

Sixfields recycling centre reopened in Northampton with predictable queues today (Tuesday May 19).

But the backlog of drivers trying to get in did not match those at Ecton Lane and Brixworth yesterday as the County Council's Household Waste Recycling Centres were unlocked for the first time in eight weeks.

But Councillor Jason Smithers, Cabinet member for Highways and Place, admits things have gone as well as could have been expected in Northamptonshire.

Cllr Smithers said “I would like to thank residents from across the county who followed our advice when attending Household Waste Recycling Centres.

“Although HWRCs were busy, particularly at opening time, the sites coped well with demand and we appreciate residents' patience whilst queueing.

“We expect the sites to continue to be busy over the coming weeks and ask for your continued cooperation, particularly by pre-sorting waste in advance of coming to site.

“By working together the council can continue to operate a service which is helping residents to dispose of waste that cannot safely be stored at home.”

Tips in neighbouring Bedfordshire reported a 2½-hour wait to get in on their first day back in operation.

Pleas from both police and the council to take only essential waste to the tips were largely obeyed but queues still built up on roads outside the HWRCs.

A mile-long tailback was reported at Brixworth while traffic waiting to get into Ecton Lane caused problems for Royal Mail staff trying to get in and out of the nearby Crow Lane sorting office.

But queues at Sixfields today were described as "orderly" as staff checked loads in and out and ensured visitors kept to social distancing guidelines.

Those planning to visit tips later in the week are also reminded that only one person will be allowed out of vehicles and staff will not be able to help carrying bulky rubbish as they normally do

All nine of Northants' HWRCs were locked up when the country went into lockdown on March 23 in a bid to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus bug. Each site will now 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.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.