Recycling Centre’s opening hours slashed

York’s Liberal Democrat councillors have criticised the decision by the Labour administration to slash the opening hours of the Hazel Court and Towthorpe Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Hazel Court Recycling Centre will now no longer open on Wednesdays and both Hazel Court and Towthorpe Household Waste Recycling Centres will now close to the public at 6pm between April and September, rather than 7pm.

York’s Liberal Democrats have hit out at these proposals, pointing out that Labour’s Green Bin Tax is likely to drive up the number of visits to these sites.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment and Climate Change, Councillor Paula Widdowson said:

“We are very concerned about these changes and the effects they will have on York’s recycling rates as it becomes more difficult for residents to recycle their waste.

“For those with daytime caring responsibilities or those who work during the day, getting to these sites by 6pm will be a real challenge. This unwelcome change comes on top of the Labour Council’s decision to double the bulky waste collection charge and the introduction of the deeply unpopular Green Bin Tax.

“For eight years in administration, Liberal Democrats kept free green waste collection, kept the charge for bulky waste collection low and protected opening times at Hazel Court and Towthorpe.”