A new booking system for people wishing to visit recycling centres in north Shropshire in Oswestry and Whitchurch comes into effect on Monday, November 4.

Shropshire Council has also announced that booking for your advance slots will start on Tuesday, October 29 with customers given the chance to secure a space six days in advance.

All residents living in the Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council areas will be able to book to visit one of the centres – located in Craven Arms, Bridgnorth, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Whitchurch.

Bookings can be made online via the Shropshire Council website or by phone by calling the council’s customer services team.

Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for waste management, said booking systems are being introduced across the UK.

“Many other councils already use booking systems at their recycling centres, or are planning to introduce one,” he said.

“Our contractor Veolia already successfully runs booking systems at a number of recycling centres.  

“These booking systems have led to a significant increase in recycling, and helped to smooth demand throughout the day, reducing congestion and queuing and making the sites safer.

“We’re confident that will be the case here in Shropshire too.

“Shropshire Council needs to make significant saving this year and introducing a booking system in Shropshire will help us to save money by reducing the cost of disposing of trade waste, non-recyclable waste and waste brought to the sites from outside the county.

“And it’s important to stress that other councils that already have booking systems haven’t found any evidence that the booking process has increased fly-tipping levels.”

Bookings can be made for cars, and for vans/trailers.

A spokesman added: “Fifteen-minute slots will be available for cars, with 30-minute slots (or 60 minutes at weekends) available for vans/trailers

“The booking system will save Shropshire Council money by reducing the cost of disposing of trade waste, non-recyclable waste and waste from outside Shropshire.

“It will help to reduce congestion and queuing times, increase recycling as centre staff will be able to better engage with visitors, and reduce the amount of trade waste taken to the centres.”

For more information about the booking system and to make an online booking, go to www.shropshire.gov.uk/recyciingcentrebooking

The booking system will replace the existing permit system for vans and trailers.