Residents using the Household Recycling Centre at Lower Compton will soon need to book their visits in advance as Wiltshire Council introduces a new booking system at six of its recycling centres.
The appointment-only pilot will begin on Monday 14th September, with residents able to start booking their visits online from Tuesday 8th September.
Lower Compton, near Calne, is one of six sites included in the pilot, alongside centres at Devizes, Melksham, Purton, Salisbury and Stanton St Quintin near Chippenham.
Under the new system, residents will initially be able to book a 30-minute slot up to one week in advance, with some same-day appointments also available.
Wiltshire Council says the pilot is being introduced in response to increasing demand at its Household Recycling Centres, which has caused operational challenges across the network.
The council hopes the booking system will help reduce queues and waiting times, improve the customer experience and make the sites more efficient, while also reducing disruption for nearby communities and businesses.
Residents are being encouraged to use the online booking system wherever possible.
Anyone unable to access or use the online service will be able to contact Wiltshire Council's Customer Services team for help making a booking.
The council says the pilot will not affect the centres' opening hours, vehicle permit requirements or the types of waste accepted.
Site capacity and slot lengths will also be reviewed during the pilot, with the council saying this will allow it to assess how well the system works and whether changes are needed.
Cllr Paul Sample JP, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate and Waste, said the pilot was intended to make visits to recycling centres “as smooth and convenient as possible” for residents.
He added that booking systems are already used successfully by many councils and said the pilot would allow Wiltshire Council to understand what benefits the approach could bring locally.
Residents who use Lower Compton Household Recycling Centre are being encouraged to familiarise themselves with the new arrangements before the appointment-only system begins.
Bookings open: Tuesday 8th September
Appointment-only visits begin: Monday 14th September
Further information about the pilot, including a video explaining how to use the booking system, is available from Wiltshire Council.
