Lengthy queues formed at skip sites in Angus and Dundee as recycling centre gates were re-opened, but residents were praised for staying patient and following the rules.
The easing of lockdown restrictions meant Angus waste centres were operational again in Forfar, Montrose, Arbroath and Monifieth. In Dundee, Baldovie and Riverside were back up and running.
However. here were reports of waits of around almost two hours to get into the city sites.
The queue at Forfar’s Queenswell Road recycling centre began to form around an hour before the 9.15am official opening, with traffic ignoring no waiting cones on the approach.
One user said: “It wasn’t too long a wait since there is nothing else to do, and once you were in it all seemed very well organised.”
No waiting restrictions and one-way systems have been put in place around many recycling centres in a bid to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
An Angus Council spokesperson said, “Our recycling centres have been busy but early indications suggest that people are following the guidance by only attending if absolutely necessary and are respecting the revised site rules, as indicated on our website.
“We would like to thank the public for their cooperation.”
Both of the council areas have put limits on the size of vehicles which will be allowed into the centres, with trailers banned.
Smaller Angus recycling centres in Brechin, Carnoustie and Kirriemuir will remain closed in the meantime.
In response to a plea from Brechin Community Council for the town site to be re-opened at the same time as the others, Angus Council chiefs said they would only operate when suitable staffing and health and safety considerations were in place.
Perth and Kinross proves less busy
There were no winding tailbacks in Perth and Kinross, where the issue of reopening the facilities had become particularly pertinent as fly-tippers had been repeatedly dumping waste in prominent beauty spots and country roads.
Both of Perth’s Inveralmond and Friarton council-run centres had traffic cones placed along the streets nearby and even had one way systems in place to cope with a predicted influx.
However, residents did not rush to the sites.
Reopening recycling centres has been a priority for the council’s environment and infrastructure committee convener Angus Forbes.
The Conservative said: “I am really pleased that the Scottish Government finally allowed Perth and Kinross to open their recycling centres today.
“I had a look at Blairgowrie centre and it wasn’t too busy. The system looked well organised, everyone seemed to be following the rules and there was no congestion like we saw in other parts of the UK when they opened up.
“Hopefully if the system copes well with the six bag rule, small trailers and garden waste will be allowed very soon. Given the weather, it’s garden waste that people really want to dispose of. ”
Fife centres fully booked
Recycling centres were fully booked as hundreds of Fifers grabbed the chance to get rid of waste stored during lockdown.
Five of the kingdom’s centres reopened and more than 1,000 time slots were snapped up for the first day.
People were warned any failure to abide by rules introduced to maintain social distancing would result in tips being closed again.
Residents were praised for sticking to the requirements at Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Dunfermline, Lochgelly and St Andrews by bosses by Fife Council company Fife Resource Solutions.
Robin Baird, chief operating officer, said: “We are really grateful to the public for the way things are working so far.
“The booking system is working well and people are getting through our sites quickly and safely.
“I would urge Fifers to keep going in this way and hopefully we can continue to avoid long queues and any issues as our centres reopen safely for everyone.”
It is understood a few people who turned up without bookings were turned away. Police also checked to ensure there were no issues.
Later in the afternoon the online booking system for slots later in the week crashed.
Claire Kirk, of Kirkcaldy, was among those at her local centre.
She said: “I was a bit anxious about coming because I’m pregnant and I thought there might be massive queues but there was nothing. It was great, I was in and out in under four minutes.”
Nicky Harper, also of Kirkcaldy, said: “It worked really well. It’s just good to get rid of the black bags from the garden at last.”
Andrew Morrison, of Leven, said the centre’s operation was “flawless”. He said: “I heard on Radio Scotland that there were queues at recycling centres but here there was none.”
Fife’s six other recycling centres at Cowdenbeath, Dalgety Bay, Cupar, Pittenweem, Methil and Ladybank remain closed.
No bulky waste can be deposited, however the council’s bulky uplift collection service will resume on Saturday.
