Changes to recycling sites - all you need to know about which sites are staying and which are going

CHANGES to recycling sites in Stockton-on-Tees will take effect next month.

The changes follow an in-depth Scrutiny Review by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Place Select Committee.

The Committee found that several of the Borough's 17 sites, also known as "bring sites", are being under used, with one site not being used at all over a six month period.

Some sites have also suffered from problems such as vandalism, arson, or dumping of general waste - as pictured - and dealing with these issues is costly.

What are "bring sites"?

"Bring sites" are designated areas in car parks and on streets where the Council provides a range of recycling containers for people to use.

The materials accepted include paper, glass, cans, cardboard, plastic bottles and textiles.

What changes have been agreed? 

The outcome of the review is to reduce the number of Council-run bring sites from 17 to seven.

The following sites will remain open:

• Tesco, Ingleby Barwick
• Tesco, Stockton
• Tesco, Eaglescliffe
• Tesco, Billingham
• Sainsbury's, Yarm
• Co-op, Norton
• Thornaby Town Centre (behind Lidl)

Sainsbury's at Bishopton Road in Stockton has a large privately-managed public bring site. Whilst this is not a Council-run facility, it does offer residents the option to recycle.

The following sites will close with their last day of operation as follows:

• Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park - Tuesday, March 19
• Wynyard Woodland Park - Tuesday, March 19
• The Smiths Arms, Carlton Village - Tuesday, March 19
• Thornaby Sports & Social - Wednesday, March 20
• The Glebe Shops - Wednesday, March 20
• Oakwood Centre - Tuesday, March 26
• Harper Parade - Tuesday, March 26
• Portrack Lane Hotel - Tuesday, March 26
• Elm Tree Shops - Wednesday, March 27
• Newtown Resource Centre - Wednesday, March 27

The sites at the Teal Arms in Ingleby Barwick and at Asda Stockton have already closed at the insistence of the landowners following repeated misuse.

What do councillors think?

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: "I'd like to thank the cross-party Select Committee for conducting such a thorough review.

"These changes will enable us to retain a good spread of well-used sites around the Borough, while closing sites that aren't well-used or that are attracting all manner of problems that are actually costing us money to put right at a time of scarce resources.

"We estimate the annual savings are at a minimum of £8,500 and this will be reinvested into improving the seven sites we are retaining, which we'll also be monitoring very closely to ensure they run as efficiently as possible.

"Keeping seven sites also means we'll still have far more sites than nearby authorities. Now is also a good time to remind people that, through our fortnightly household recycling collection, we effectively give people a 'bring site' on their doorstep.

"All in all, when looking at the evidence gathered by the committee it's clear that is right thing to do."