Cycling to a recycling centre

bohrsatom
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by bohrsatom »

Tompsk wrote: 18 Feb 2022, 9:00am I wish you well in your attempts to get access for cyclists. Unfortunately I've had the feeling from some councils that they have made a decision and then expend more effort in coming up with excuses and spurious reasons than actually reapraising or resolving the issue. I hope it doesn't end up in the catch-all "because our insurance doesn't allow it" category...
If you find yourself getting opaque responses like this, you could always FOI the local authority to provide documents to justify their position
cycle tramp
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by cycle tramp »

If you were really mean you could write something like..

Thank you for explaining that the reason cyclists and pedestrians are band from using the recycling centre on the grounds of safety.
However I am confused, if I visit the recycling centre and get out of my car to walk to a skip, I become a pedestrian, and if I wheel a bicycle from my car to a skip I become a cyclist. (Optional line, indeed when I plan to visit the recycling centre by bicycle I plan to wear my helmet and hi visit jacket making me safer than if I was to visit the recycling centre by car).
Indeed if pedestrians are banned then surely no one is safe leaving their vehicles?
And if I am banned from cycling to a recycling centre, could I visit the recycling centre by motorcycle?
To help me understand your point of view I am using the freedom of information act to request an up to date copy of your Risk Assessment Matrix, which surely must have been written to reach your decision to ban pedestrians and cyclists from the recycling centre. Please be kind enough to send me a copy within the usual legal deadline.
(If you did not use this matrix to assess risk, then may I suggest that your reason to ban pedestrians and cyclists is arbitrary at best, and based on personal prejudices at worst?)
Many thanks.....
It's time to go :-)
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mjr
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by mjr »

cycle tramp wrote: 19 Feb 2022, 9:41am If you were really mean you could write something like..

[...]
(If you did not use this matrix to assess risk, then may I suggest that your reason to ban pedestrians and cyclists is arbitrary at best, and based on personal prejudices at worst?)
Many thanks.....
I think that's very unlikely to get cycling allowed there ever while the recipient is in post!
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De Sisti
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by De Sisti »

cycle tramp wrote: 19 Feb 2022, 9:41am If you were really mean you could write something like..

Thank you for explaining that the reason cyclists and pedestrians are band from using the recycling centre on the grounds of safety.
However I am confused, if I visit the recycling centre and get out of my car to walk to a skip, I become a pedestrian, and if I wheel a bicycle from my car to a skip I become a cyclist. (Optional line, indeed when I plan to visit the recycling centre by bicycle I plan to wear my helmet and hi visit jacket making me safer than if I was to visit the recycling centre by car).
Indeed if pedestrians are banned then surely no one is safe leaving their vehicles?
And if I am banned from cycling to a recycling centre, could I visit the recycling centre by motorcycle?
To help me understand your point of view I am using the freedom of information act to request an up to date copy of your Risk Assessment Matrix, which surely must have been written to reach your decision to ban pedestrians and cyclists from the recycling centre. Please be kind enough to send me a copy within the usual legal deadline.
(If you did not use this matrix to assess risk, then may I suggest that your reason to ban pedestrians and cyclists is arbitrary at best, and based on personal prejudices at worst?)
Many thanks.....
If using the above template, use some "white space/paragraphs", to make it easier to read.
simonhill
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by simonhill »

mjr, please amend your list.

I see Southend is a "tolerated ?". That's not what I meant. They have always allowed me in on my bike.

On checking the website it only talks about "vehicles", no mention of, or exclusion of, bikes and as bikes are legally vehicles, it's presumably allowed.

So Southend on Sea Borough Council (soon to be City), allowed please.

It does say no access on foot.
Jon Lucas
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by Jon Lucas »

Vorpal wrote: 17 Feb 2022, 2:11pm I guess all these H&S folks would be horrified by Norwegian recycling centres. Not only do drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists wander about the site, but most also have compost collection and a freecycling section, where people can leave stuff that's too good to throw away, and other users come to browse the free stuff, which can include large furniture items.

On thing that they do in Norway though, that I think is good, is they usually have a public side and an employee side. So, all of the skips, places to leave stuff, etc, will be in a row, or semi-circle or something, and visitors go down / around one side, and employees, workers & machinery go down / around the other. That way, pedestrians and cyclists only need to watch out for drivers & each other, and not wheel-loaders, backhoes, and skip lorries.
This all sounds eminently sensible, so unlikely to happen here. :(

I cycled to our recycling centre a few weeks ago, parked my bike by the skip I was unloading stuff into, and someone raced over because he thought I was about to dispose of my bike and he wanted to have it!
AndyK
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by AndyK »

Jon Lucas wrote: 21 Feb 2022, 5:40pm
Vorpal wrote: 17 Feb 2022, 2:11pm [...]

On thing that they do in Norway though, that I think is good, is they usually have a public side and an employee side. So, all of the skips, places to leave stuff, etc, will be in a row, or semi-circle or something, and visitors go down / around one side, and employees, workers & machinery go down / around the other. That way, pedestrians and cyclists only need to watch out for drivers & each other, and not wheel-loaders, backhoes, and skip lorries.
This all sounds eminently sensible, so unlikely to happen here. :(

[...]
That's exactly the layout at my local recycling centre in Winchester. I think it's the usual procedure when creating a new recycling centre from scratch.
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RickH
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by RickH »

Bolton is a yes.

Decided to give it a go today as I had some stuff I wanted to clear out of the way & it wasn't too heavy or bulky. I'd not notice any signs to say cycles weren't welcome on previous visits by car. Converted the Circe Helios into cargo mode & cycled over. A bit of scrap metal, batteries, compact fluorescent bulb & some dead devices (hand mixer, clock) in the panniers. Bagged bush cuttings on the top of the rack.
At the recycling centre - Raikes Lane in Bolton.
At the recycling centre - Raikes Lane in Bolton.

I was pleasantly surprised to be warmly greeted by the staff member at the gate who is there to direct you to the right bit(s) of the facility for what you've got. Quite a bit of interest in the bike from staff.

Altogether a pleasant & straightforward trip (apart from the howling headwind getting there). :D

(edit to correct typo.)
Last edited by RickH on 11 Mar 2022, 5:20pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Phil Fouracre
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by Phil Fouracre »

Interesting thread! Surprising people having problems, don’t know if there is any sort of nationwide policy. Been to our ‘tip’ at Taunton and had no problems at all.
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cycle tramp
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by cycle tramp »

RickH wrote: 11 Mar 2022, 3:00pm Bolton is a yes.

Decided to give it a go today as I had some stuff I wanted to clear out of the way & it wasn't too heavy or bulky. I'd not notice any signs to say cycles weren't welcome on previous visits by car. Converted the Circe Helios into cargo mode & cycled over. A bit of scrap metal, batteries, compact fluorescent bulb & some dead devices (hand mixer, clock) in the panniers. Bagged bush cuttings on the top of the rack.

IMG_20220311_122918.jpg


I was pleasantly surprised to be warmly greeted by the staff member at the gate who is there to direct you to the right bit(s) of the facility for what you've got. Quite a bit of interest in the bike from staff.

Altogether a pleasant & straightforward trip (apart from the howling headwind getting there). :D

(edit to correct typo.)
That's an impressive load! I'm really quite jealous of your 'stuff' moving ability
It's time to go :-)
Newtface
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by Newtface »

I rode to our local centre once with my BOB Yak trailer with 3 dead car batteries in. Security stopped me at the gate and told me I couldn't go on site. After a brief discussion, we compromised. I persuaded security bloke to look the other way as I unloaded by his cabin and rode off. Presumably he moved the stuff to the right place later on. All a bit <i>[inappropriate word removed]</i> though really, I see no grounds not to allow access. Every motorist who drives onto site is a pedestrian once he gets out of his vehicle.
Stradageek
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by Stradageek »

Update from the OP (that's me :) )

I thought I'd chase progress via my local Councillor:

Hi Mike

Just following up on your last email having put my latest batch of scrap metal out for collection by the roving scrap metal vans rather than go through the apparently pointless process of 'booking' another trip to the Ecton Recycling Centre.

I feel a little conflicted here because the roving scrap metal merchants do need to make a living and I'm sure the council sees no return for the value of the scrap metal collected at Ecton.

If I'd had another batch of fluorescent tubes there wouldn't have been such a simple alternative.

Many thanks again


Now awaiting a reply
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TrevA
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by TrevA »

Update for Notts recycling centres - bikes are allowed by prior appointment (ring customer services). You will be met at the entrance and escorted onto site.
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hemo
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by hemo »

High an update from me.
I emailed W.S.C.C regarding the use of my local RC in Crawley, West Sx, and received a lovely reply from the contracts officer. I am indeed allowed to freely just turn up to said site with my cycle/ebike and trailer to discard excess recycling or rubbish though as required must take a DL. The website doesn't contain this info and said it will be updated to be clearer for those who want to use a green form of transport for usage.

On arriving at said site the officer/contractor on duty will direct me into the said process of the site to follow instructions.
So another win win for the cycle recyclers.
Please if anyone is having issues contact the local authority and not the contractor, it looks like most should agree to allow access. It has saved me from contacting Henry Smith my local MP to escalate the process for access.

I hope this also is helpful to the forum user who was turned away from the Viridor run Horsham site as well and any one else in the W.S.C.C en catchment area.


This is the email reply I received today.

Thank you for your recent communication and for taking the time to contact us.

I can confirm you are able to use your electric bike/trailer to dispose of your own household waste at our Crawley Recycling Centre and are not required to book a slot in order to do this. Please ensure you take some ID with you, preferably a photographic driving licence, should you be asked for it.

When you arrive at site, you will be asked to drop off your waste with the Information Officer at the site entrance, and staff will then take this material to the relevant container for disposal.

We will look to update our website with relevant information to assist residents going forward, should they have a similar enquiry.

I hope this clarifies things for you, but please contact us should you require any further information.

Kind regards

Gill Hughes
Contracts Officer
Wastes Management Services
Last edited by hemo on 12 Apr 2022, 8:50pm, edited 2 times in total.
Jdsk
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Re: Cycling to a recycling centre

Post by Jdsk »

Well done.

Jonathan
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