Exciting improvements could be made to Milton Keynes’ tips

The Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) booking system has been reviewed now that social distancing restrictions are no longer in place, and next week a leading cabinet member will announce the review's findings and future improvements that could be introduced.

The booking system was introduced in May 2020 to ensure the essential service could continue safely during the pandemic.

Since its introduction, the Council has:

• Driven flytipping down across the city, thanks to the flytipping action plan which saw just 326 reports of flytipped waste in October 2021 - the lowest recorded number since December 2018
• Seen 92% of users rate the system at least four stars out of five
• Saved £220,000 due to the reduction in transport and disposal costs, and the increase in trade waste income
• Recorded zero health and safety incidents at the HWRCs

Councillor Lauren Townsend, Labour Progressive Alliance Cabinet Member for Public Realm, will bring the review to Cabinet on Tuesday:

"We committed to reviewing the tip booking system once social distancing eased, and we have established that it is hugely beneficial for residents and businesses. Long wait times are a thing of the past, as there are over 100 slots available each hour at the sites across MK and we now have same-day bookings.

"This success has seen flytipping steadily decline over the past eight months and we will continue to crackdown on criminals who think it is acceptable to illegally dispose of waste, all while making it easier for people to access the tips."

Councillor Townsend will also announce plans to enhance the booking system by including ANPR technology and customer information screens, which should be ready for visitors to use by Spring 2022.

The ANPR technology will scan vehicle registration plates to establish if a booking has been made, thus making the entry process more streamlined and cost-effective.

Councillor Paul Trendall, Lib Dem Cabinet Member for Customer Services, added:

"The Progressive Alliance has listened to residents since the booking system was introduced, and we are keen to constantly improve and expand our service wherever necessary. We have recently introduced same-day booking slots, making it easy for those last-minute tip runs, and these improvements will make the service even better."