HWRC sites offering assistance to residents to drive recycling rates
14 Jul 2025
Increased assistance is being offered at Household Waste Recovery sites (Tips) in Northumberland. Each site will have a staff member on hand at the general waste skip to help and answer any queries about recycling.
It is hoped that the increased assistance will help residents to use the right container for their waste disposal, as well as improving customer service, site experience, and protecting the environment.
Also, following several fires at Waste Transfer Stations and in Waste Collection Vehicles caused by batteries and vapes that have been disposed of in the general waste stream. The new process will aim to improve health & safety, keep our dedicated NCC & Suez staff safe and prevent any service disruptions resulting from the devastating effects of fire.
The new processes in place will mean:
- Staff will be on hand to help residents to separate their recycling.
- A dedicated container will remain available for general waste, including black bags.
- Staff will ask residents if there are any recyclables in their black bags, including; Batteries, electrical items, textiles (clothing), plastic, cans, glass, paper and card.
- Residents will then be pointed in the direction of the correct skips, with assistance available from site staff should you need it.
Northumberland County Councillor John Riddle, Cabinet member for Environment and Rural said: “Recycling is important to not only protect the beauty of our county but also the wider environment.
"Incentives like this have been carried out by other local authorities, with great success rates.
"The results have not only driven up recycling rates but, with increased customer facing interaction at Household Waste Recovery Centre’s customers leave having had a better experience.”
To find out more about our Household Waste Recovery Centres, including where to find your nearest site go to: https://beta.northumberland.gov.uk/bins-recycling-waste/household-waste-recovery-centres-tip