Powys County Council has defended its upcoming changes to the Household Recycling Centres, with Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, Cllr Jackie Charlton, saying the measures aim to improve efficiency and manage costs.

From April 1, 2025, Powys residents will be required to book a time slot before visiting any of the county’s five Household Recycling Centres, in a move aimed at reducing congestion and queuing times. The council is also introducing charges for DIY waste, which Cllr Charlton said were necessary to cover the costs of handling and disposal.

Despite some criticism of similar systems in other areas, Cllr Charlton pointed to positive feedback from residents in places like North Wales, where a similar booking system was well-received.

“In fact, in a recent survey by a council in North Wales, 81 per cent of residents ranked the new booking system as excellent, and 83 per cent are in favour of keeping it in place,” she said.

“Change is always a challenge to begin with. It will soon become second nature, and remembering to pre-book a time slot will make your visit to the household recycling centre more efficient.”

However, not all areas have embraced the booking system. Just across the border in Shropshire, the Conservative-led council recently scrapped its booking requirement for cars visiting recycling centres, just months after introducing it. The U-turn followed feedback from residents who found the system inconvenient, and a petition spearheaded by Shropshire’s Liberal Democrat councillors.

Powys County Council’s decision to implement these changes is part of a broader effort to manage costs, improve recycling rates, and reduce non-legitimate use of the centres, including preventing commercial operators from taking advantage of the service.

Cllr Charlton acknowledged that charges for DIY waste are “never welcome” but stressed that they were necessary to ensure the continued operation of the recycling centres.

“We appreciate that charges are never welcome, but they will ensure we can continue to accept small quantities of DIY waste from our home improvement projects and continue to afford to keep all five Household Recycling Centres open five days a week,” she said.

Charges for disposing of DIY waste will vary depending on the material. The full breakdown of charges for different materials can be found here.

The council said these charges are not intended to make a profit but to offset the costs of handling and disposal.

The council also hopes to improve sustainability through a partnership with local community groups to introduce reuse shops at the centres in the future, allowing residents to donate or buy items while helping raise funds for local causes.

The changes are set to come into effect on April 1, 2025, with residents able to book their first time slot from March 25.

While Powys residents prepare for these changes, James Evans, Conservative MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, has voiced strong opposition, calling the charges “an insult” and warning that they could lead to increased fly-tipping and discourage people from using the recycling centres.

He also expressed concern that the charges would unfairly impact residents already struggling with rising council taxes.