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Controversial recycling centre system goes live

Paul Moseley/BBC A mostly-blue sign at a recycling centre telling people 'book your slot'Paul Moseley/BBC
Signs are up telling people they will need to book to use the tip

A controversial system to make people book times to use recycling centres in Norfolk has gone live.

Norfolk County Council said introducing online and telephone booking would help it save money and cut congestion at recycling sites.

It said people could reserve times for tip trips from next Monday onwards, when bookings become mandatory.

The move has been criticised groups such as the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which warned it could lead to an increase in fly-tipping.

Paul Moseley/BBC Kate Murrell standing in front of two large containers at a recycling centre. She has glasses and is wearing a light purple coat.Paul Moseley/BBC
Kate Murrell from Norfolk County Council said the new system should help manage demand

The council’s waste manager, Kate Murrell, said the new method should be "quick and easy to use" and that it would help staff to manage congestion.

"We have more waste coming through the sites. At some of our busier sites that does cause a little bit of queuing and it leaves our staff site busy in trying to process waste or help customers," she said.

She added that the council was in a "bit of a difficult position" trying to make savings, and the change would help with that.

The CLA said it opposed the decision. Its director for the East, Mark Riches, has previously told the BBC that he was worried about making it more complicated to visit the tip.

"Our big concern is the potential increases in fly-tipping," he said.

"From our point of view we would like to see waste recycling facilities available as freely as possible."

Paul Moseley/BBC Hayden Newport standing wearing a thick, blue works cardigan. He's standing in front of the back of his white trades-van.Paul Moseley/BBC
Hayden Newport said he had used a recycling centre booking system in Suffolk and found it "fairly simple"

At the Norwich North recycling centre there was a mixed response to the booking system.

A number of people the BBC spoke to said they knew little or nothing about it.

Neville Reeve from Thorpe Marriott said he was against the change as it was convenient for him to turn up when he wanted to.

"To ring up and book, it’s daft isn’t it? It's ridiculous."

Hayden Newport, who lives near Diss, was more positive.

He said he had booked to use recycling centres in Suffolk and that helped to manage how busy the tip would get.

"It’s fairly simple. If you go on the website all the directions are right there in front of you," he said.

Listen: A new booking system has been put in place in Norfolk’s waste recycling centres

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