The plans by the Liberal Democrat-led administration at Wiltshire Council has drawn the ire of a former colleague, who now represents part of the county at Parliament.
Just two years ago Brian Mathew was Wiltshire Councillor for Box & Colerne, sitting alongside Ian Thorn – now leader of Wiltshire Council – and Paul Sample, now the authority’s cabinet member for waste.
Now, free from party line-toeing, he has criticised a decision by his former colleagues to trial a new slot-booking system for some household recycling centres in the county – especially the one at Devizes, which is in his constituency.
He has written to the administration, asking them to “think again” on the plan.
He says introducing a booking system “risks creating more problems than it solves.”
“People often use the recycling centre when they unexpectedly have a spare half hour. Requiring an appointment removes that flexibility and could discourage people from recycling altogether,” he told constituents last week.
“I’m also worried it could lead to an increase in fly-tipping or illegal dumping. We should be making it easier for people to dispose of their waste responsibly, not putting more barriers in their way.”
In the letter to his former colleagues, he writes: “Many constituents have questioned what specific problems this pilot is intended to solve, and are struggling to understand why Devizes has been selected when the existing arrangements appear to function effectively.
“I am also concerned about the unintended consequences. Any measure that makes it more difficult to access a household recycling site risks encouraging fly-tipping or illegal dumping.
“Even if only a small proportion of people decide that visiting the recycling centre has become too inconvenient, the environmental and financial costs could be considerable.”
He adds: “I know that we should be doing everything we can to encourage residents to recycle.
“Creating additional barriers makes that harder, particularly for residents in Devizes who already face the frustration of recycling and waste collections, where many are required to retain and present multiple receptacles for different recyclable materials separately, together with a road to a recycling centre locally.
“If they feel that the flexibility they currently have when accessing the recycling centre is being eroded by requiring them to book ahead, it risks making recycling more difficult and less convenient.
“It could also undermine their confidence that Wiltshire Council is on their side, supporting them to recycle as often and as easily as possible.”
He has requested a meeting “given the high level of concern locally.”
Last month, the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that a booking trial was being rolled out at recycling centres in Melksham, Devizes, Salisbury, and Stanton St Quintin near Chippenham, beginning on September 8.
Banners had gone up at recycling centres ahead of an official announcement by the council, leaving local people concerned and upset.
Officially launching the trial last week, Cllr Sample said: “We want our Household Recycling Centres to provide the best possible experience for residents.
“By managing demand more effectively, we expect to reduce queues, make visits more convenient and lessen the impact on surrounding communities and local businesses.
“The pilot is about improving how the service operates, but the service itself is not changing. Residents will still be able to dispose of the same types of waste; opening hours will remain the same and any existing permit requirements will continue to apply.
“We’ll be promoting the new system over the coming months and encourage residents to find out more and plan ahead before the pilot begins in September.”