TORFAEN’S recycling centre in New Inn will re-open on Tuesday, May 26, the county borough council has announced.

Visits to the site should only take place if essential – such as if it is a risk to health or safety to keep the waste at home – and must be booked in advance.

Residents will be expected to use kerbside collections as their primary way of disposing of waste and recycling.

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Cllr Mandy Owen, executive member for the environment, said: “A visit to the HWRC will be different when reopened as we are taking measures to manage the number of daily visitors and keep staff and visitors safe.

“Restrictions will be in place and all visits will be via a strict booking system. You will not be able to turn up at site without an official booking or outside your time slot – you will not gain entry if you do.

“As a result, we ask that if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of COVID19 or is currently shielding, please do not visit the centres. Please observe social distancing when you visit, and take your own gloves or hand sanitiser with you as it will not be provided on site.

“It’s important to reduce your time at the recycling centre, and this is why we are asking for everyone to pre-sort their recycling before they leave home.”

The current plan will only permit seven vehicles on site at any one time, with the site split into two zones controlled by staff.

Vans and trailers will not be allowed to enter the site during this period.

The site will be open seven days a week and will operate on hourly slots, Monday to Saturday 7.30am until 4.30pm, and Sunday 9am-5pm.

The booking system is expected to go live next week and bookings will be made online at torfaen.gov.uk

Newport, Monmouthshire and Caerphilly councils have also announced plans to re-open HWRCs with similar restrictions in place from the same date of May 26.