Published Friday 19 March 2021 at 12:49
Residents across Blackburn with Darwen will now be able to access the household waste recycling centres without having to book a slot, effective from Thursday 1 April.
From April 1st, the booking system for household waste recycling centres across Blackburn with Darwen will close.
The online booking system was introduced last May in response to the coronavirus pandemic, allowing residents to safely access the sites throughout various restrictions.
However, with phase 2 of the roadmap approaching and approximately 1/3 of the borough vaccinated, the Council are now inviting residents to sensibly and safely use the HWRCs.
We remind residents to continue following government guidelines on social distancing rules when using the centres, which will see access managed for those who attend the sites
Residents should also be aware that during the first few days of full opening, the sites may be busier than usual and as a result there could be queues. Please keep this in mind when planning your visit.
The centres are open on the following days and times:
- Blackburn HWRC, 3 George Street West, Blackburn, BB2 1PQ – open every day except Wednesday.
- Darwen HWRC, Spring Vale Road, Darwen, BB3 2ES – open every day except Tuesday.
- Winter opening times: 1st October – 31st March, 8am to 5pm.
- Summer opening times: 1st April – 30th September, 8am to 7pm.
Please note, residents should not visit HWRCs if they fall within the categories below:
- Extremely vulnerable and are remaining at home for shielding purposes
- Symptomatic with coronavirus
- In a 10-day household isolation
Return to near full opening is just one of the Council’s actions in tackling the rise of fly tipping and littering, making it easier for residents to properly dispose of waste.
The Environmental Waste Crime team are currently recruiting a new legal officer, with the team handling 41 successful prosecutions and issuing over 200 fixed penalty notices this working year.
The team also have an active environmental education officer who is working with community groups and schools to tackle the issue, having increased signage across the borough and deploying a new team that clear back streets.