The recycling centre used by Beverley residents is ‘no longer fit for purpose’, according to a council report.
A report to its environment and regeneration overview and scrutiny sub-committee last month said the site at Weel needs to be relocated as a priority.
In his report to last month’s committee meeting, Paul Bellotti, director of communities and environment at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said there were ‘serious issues affecting site operations, capacity, and permit requirements.’
He wrote: “Weel HWRS has been reported as a priority site for relocation during previous projects.
A major and developing issue on the site is the drainage which is deteriorating due to the site being located on an old landfill site and that fact, despite extensive investment, means we have been unable to install a completely sealed and compliant drainage system.
paul bellotti
“The site is no longer fit for purpose, operating over-capacity and experiencing operational difficulties due to ageing and inadequate infrastructure, which was built to deal with the site needs from many years ago.
“Traffic queues now develop onto the narrow access road and public highway, bringing complaints from residents of Weel and site users.
“The majority of skips on the site are accessed by stairway gantries which prolongs customer activity at the site and introduces a number of health and safety risks.
“A major and developing issue on the site is the drainage which is deteriorating due to the site being located on an old landfill site and that fact, despite extensive investment, means we have been unable to install a completely sealed and compliant drainage system.”
The report also said that bringing in residents’ passes at recycling sites in the East Riding, including the one in Weel, could save the council around £200,000 per year, early indications show.
The number of people using the facilities was down by 11 per cent after the passes were introduced in October, which has led to reduced waiting times to get onto sites.
Mr Bellotti said: “Across all sites, waste tonnages are down by nearly 22 per cent and visitor numbers by 11 per cent in November 2021.
“It should be noted that comparing one month’s figures does mean there will be a level of seasonal and annual fluctuation, however the downward trend is clear.
“On the figures so far, the projected annual saving would be close to £200,000.”
The passes were brought in to stop people who live outside the East Riding using the 10 sites for free.
Staff at Weel said they still have around 140 people from outside the region trying to offload their rubbish and it is higher at Airmyn, near Goole.
Anyone visiting the facilities now has to show their resident’s pass or proof of their address.
Mr Bellotti’s report said the project had worked well, although there had been 21 complaints or comments, some from people who had lost their passes.
“One of the lessons learned from the introduction has been the timing and format of the pass itself,” he said.
“The pass was sent as part of the waste collection mailshot and also did not look as clearly like a pass as it could have done.
“This led to residents throwing them away and only realising this either when they visited sites after 1st October 2021, or when they saw publicity.
“We have made it clear that residents can show an alternative proof of address.
“We have taken on board comments about this, and plan to re-design the pass when it is next issued in December 2022.”
