Launch of booking system to reduce traffic queues at Hampshire’s HWRCs

A new system for residents to book slots at a Hampshire Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) will begin on Monday 15 June 2020. Only residents who have made a booking will be able to access the sites from this date onwards The system is being set up in response to some of the severe traffic congestion seen at many HWRCs since they reopened on 11 May with new social distancing measures in place. Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at Hampshire County Council, said: “The new Covid-safe working requirements inevitably mean capacity at all of our HWRCs is reduced. Although we have the largest HWRC network in the country, we haven’t seen a decline in the numbers of people visiting the HWRCs in the weeks since they reopened. Unfortunately, despite road markings and signs that we had put in place to help manage the traffic, the level of queuing at many sites is so significant that it is causing issues with local residents, local businesses and, in some cases, risking the safety of others on the roads. “Once the booking system is in place, we will be able to manage the number of vehicles coming to HWRCs at all times, so should see an end to this unacceptable level of traffic queuing. We’ll also have confidence that waste vehicles will be able to enter HWRCs to service the bins without getting stuck in traffic which means we can keep the sites open for longer each day.” From 15 June, all HWRCs will also revert to their normal summer opening hours of 9am until 6pm, seven days a week. People will be able to book a 30-minute slot up to 48 hours in advance. It is anticipated that over 30,000 booking slots will be available each week. Bookings will need to be made online. Arrangements are also being made for a telephone booking line for residents who do not have access to the internet. Those wishing to book a slot will need to provide their name, car registration and, for online bookings, an email address. Bookings will be limited to one slot per household per week. Further details will be provided on how to book, next week when the new booking system goes live.