A new permit scheme to prevent people from outside the area using Bath’s Recycling Centres is proving to be successful.
Since the Council introduced Recycling Centre Resident Permits on 2nd April, over 22,000 have been issued to local people.
The new scheme means that residents of Bath and North East Somerset must now possess a free electronic permit in order to use any of the three recycling centres at Bath, Keynsham and Old Welton.
The main benefit of the permits is that they will create financial savings for the local taxpayer. Until now, the Council has been paying around £60,000 each year for non-Bath and North East Somerset residents to dispose of their waste for free at our Recycling Centres.
Some neighbouring authorities have already adopted similar schemes and it is also hoped that the permits will reduce queuing times for residents at the centres. A Discovery Card can also be used as proof of residency.
Councillor David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: ‘The take up of permits within the first month has been fantastic and it’s great to see that Bath and North East Somerset residents are still as keen as ever to recycle.
“The Council is continuing to proactively enforce the new system and if residents try to enter one of the centres without a permit, staff will inform them how to become authorised. The permit scheme is an important way of the Council protecting frontline services for the public by becoming more financially efficient.”
With all three centres likely to be busy over the bank holiday weekend, if you haven’t applied for your permit already, then now is the time to do it – and don’t forget, your rubbish and recycling collections continue as normal on bank holiday Monday.
All the information on the scheme and how to apply is available on the Council website, email [email protected] or phone 01225 39 40 41.
Some local residents haven’t got on so well with the new permits – what has been your experience with them? Let us know, email [email protected] with your views.
@nowbath the recycle permit is a shambles ! Applied 6 weeks ago ! Tried going there today and got Refused !! Not good ! Welton = no manners!
— Aliy BristolCity (@alisonbyerley) May 5, 2013
