Recycling centres are set to reopen in South Gloucestershire.

Cllr Toby Savage, leader of South Gloucestershire Council, made the announcement on BBC Radio Bristol this morning.

The council's Sort It centres in Thornbury, Yate and Mangotsfield will reopen on Saturday, May 16 and will be open from 6am-6pm.

Social distancing measures and other restrictions will be in place and the council leader is encouraging residents to only use them if it is essential.

Cllr Savage said: "The traffic is going to be pretty awful.

"They are going to be so busy. We can't have as many people using them as before."

"We need to keep talking to the police about how we manage traffic

"Residents should only being using them if its essential."

The sites will only be accepting non-recyclable black bin waste and large items such as furniture and mattresses.

Any other waste, including garden waste, soil, DIY, recycling and plastics cannot be brought onto the sites and will not be accepted.

Certain areas will be cordoned off to allow social distancing measures to be implemented. 

Each vehicle will have the use of two parking spaces to unload waste and two disposal bays to use; one for black bin waste and one for large items.

Site staff will not be able to help unload vehicles, so make sure you have someone from your household with you if you need help

Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Rachael Hunt said: “It is fantastic news that we will be reopening three of our recycling centres to allow people to dispose of some of the troublesome black-bin and bulky waste that may have built-up at home over the lockdown period.

“It is important to note that we will have to apply some restrictions around the type of waste that can be disposed of in order to implement appropriate social distancing measures and we urge people to only use the sites if absolutely necessary. 

“After these sites have opened, we will be reviewing the measures regularly and additional types of waste may be added if it is possible to do so. I’d like to thank our residents for their patience and understanding over the past few weeks.”

The recycling centre in Little Stoke will remain closed for the time being, as will the re-use shop at the Thornbury centre. 

Weekly recycling collections will also resume from next week.

More details about council services are available at southglos.gov.uk/servicedisruption