The Eastern Household Waste Recycling Centre has opened.

The centre, formerly the Eastern District civic amenity site, is located on the Middle River industrial estate and has been set out to provide easier and more user-friendly access to the recycling facilities, notably a larger area for items left for re-use.

Operated by Douglas Borough Council the centre is managed by a joint committee of the local authorities for Douglas, Onchan, Braddan, Laxey , Lonan and Santon headed by chairman Councillor Bill Malarkey.

He explained: ‘Ahead of the re-opening the site was closed for two days to carry out important safety work, so we took that opportunity to re-design the site.

‘The Council has long been committed to providing a waste management service that meets users’ needs. In support of this the committee is united in its efforts to encourage more householders to recycle as much as possible by making the process as streamlined as possible.

‘Increasingly local authorities are expected to deliver more for less and to come up with new and productive ways of making savings. In this the general public has a role to play. The more waste people recycle, the fewer gate fees are incurred at the energy from waste plant, which lessens the burden on the ratepayers. Simply put recycling makes sound environmental and economic sense.’

Between April 1st and September 30th the centre is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 7pm and from 8am to 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays. Between October 1st and March 31st the site is open from 8am to 4pm all week. On Senior Race Day opening hours are 8am to 4pm.

The centre is closed on New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Tynwald Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Photo - left to right: Councillor Bill Malarkey, Lonan Commissioners’ Nigel Dobson, Friends of the Earth’s Cat Turner and Braddan Commissioners’ Andrew Jessopp. Picture Andrew Barton.