Galloway and West Dumfries representative Finlay Carson has written to Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham and Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop, as well as Dumfries and Galloway Council leader Elaine Murray and chief executive Gavin Stevenson, asking them to consider how the centres could operate in line with social distancing guidelines.
Although he recognises that the closure of centres at the start of lockdown was necessary to help stop the spread of the virus, Mr Carson said that problems with flytipping across rural communities mean it should now be reconsidered. And he suggested that a one-in, one-out policy at recycling centres could ease the pressure on bin collections and help reduce incidents of flytipping.
He said: “The decision by Dumfries and Galloway Council to close recycling centres across the region at the start of lockdown was necessary in order to stop nonessential travel and the spread of the virus. “However, we have unfortunately seen our communities become more and more blighted by flytipping in recent weeks which has been hugely disappointing to see. Our community safety officers and our bin collectors continue to do a wonderful job at this time, but it is clear that the closure of the recycling centres has brought ever increasing pressures on getting rid of waste. That is why I hope the Scottish Government is working closely with Dumfries and Galloway Council to reconsider the decision and reopen recycling centres with a one-in, one-out policy in line with social distancing guidelines, where possible.”
