National pressures impacting waste sites across the country are continuing to affect Leicestershire.
The temporary closures at four recycling and household waste sites have been extended until further notice at Bottesford, Lutterworth, Oadby and Shepshed while teams work to clear waste and empty containers that have filled up following exceptionally high demand in recent weeks.
The temporary closures come against a backdrop of increased demand locally, and significant pressures across the waste industry nationwide.
Local authorities including neighbouring councils across the country are facing increasing challenges in managing waste.
Disruption at waste treatment facilities across the country - including three major incidents in the last 48 hours - has increased pressure on the sites that remain operational. The Environment Agency has also closed several waste facilities elsewhere in the country, resulting in additional waste being redirected into the wider system.
These pressures have seen two treatment facilities that process waste collected from Leicestershire unable to accept further material from the county at the current time.
This is not an issue unique to Leicestershire. The waste sector is currently experiencing significant pressure across the country, with a combination of site closures, treatment capacity issues and recent fires affecting the whole system.
Unfortunately, those challenges are now having a direct impact on the facilities that handle Leicestershire's waste, with two of the treatment sites we rely unable to take any more material because they are struggling to move waste on quickly enough.
While we appreciate the inconvenience this temporary closure will cause residents, taking this action is necessary to ensure waste can continue to be managed safely and responsibly while we work with our contractors and partners to restore services as soon as possible.
Person:Councillor Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for environment & waste
Staff are working hard behind the scenes to get sites back up and running, but the four sites will remain closed until enough capacity has been created for them to reopen safely.
Lount Recycling and Household Waste Site, which is currently closed for improvement works, will also remain closed until further notice.
Residents are also being advised that, due to the current heatwave, all open recycling and household waste sites across the county will close early at 4pm on Wednesday and Thursday.
The temporary reduction in opening hours is being introduced to help protect the health, safety and wellbeing of both site users and staff during the period of very hot weather.
Councillor Tilbury added: "The very hot weather means we also need to take sensible steps to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone working at and visiting our sites. We appreciate residents' patience and understanding while these measures are in place."
Residents are encouraged to only visit a recycling and household waste site if necessary and to check the latest service updates before travelling.
For more information, visit our Waste & Recycling pages.