The Labour-controlled authority agreed in February that it needs to deliver the savings from its waste budget because the Scottish Government revenue grant is “not sufficient to meet increasing costs and demand for services”.
In an executive committee last week, the council agreed that its five recycling centres from September 2023 will only be open for 144 hours a week, down from 280 hours previously.
Currently, all five of its sites are open between 10:00 and 18:00 every day, with the sites operated by 18 staff members. Just over 540,000 visits were recorded last year.
Under the new proposals, all sites will remain open the same times at the weekend, but three of the sites will be closed three days per week, with the other two sites closed two days a week, as outlined below.
Booking
The report explained that this option was recommended because it will see the retention of all five sites, with coverage so that at least two sites are open between 10:00-18:00 each weekday.
A booking system will also be implemented from September, which the council said would prevent cross-border access to the facilities and deliver £70,000 per annum of cost savings.
From a staffing perspective, this option “retains eight of the eighteen full-time members of staff and staff would be retained on their existing shift pattern.”
It was noted that staff who are unsuccessful in obtaining a post will look to be redeployed
where possible.
There is a risk that illegal fly tipping could increase
- West Lothian council
Fly-tipping
The report did acknowledge that the measure could lead to additional fly-tipping.
The report said: “There is a risk that illegal fly tipping could increase, both at the site
gates and in the surrounding areas, or through smaller items and bagged material being
disposed of as contamination in the blue or green bins as a result of the reduced number
of days each facility is open.
“The council estimates that around 80% of fly-tipping is commercial-related, and it is believed that the increase noted to date is likely to be linked to the rising costs of waste disposal for companies. Any additional pressure which may arise through fly tipping would be unbudgeted as it currently stands.”
It also warned that recycling rates could fall in line with the opening hours.
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