Recycling Centre Vehicle Bookings Consultation

In 2022, Essex County Council (ECC) started a pilot requiring users to pre-book visits to recycling centres in response to challenges of high demand at peak times (congestion, environmental impacts, longer waiting times).

In October 2023, Essex County Council published an interim evaluation of the pilot and launched a consultation with the aim of seeking views from Essex residents and other stakeholders on keeping a recycling centre booking process permanently.

The responses to the consultation have been independently analysed and a summary is provided below.

18,123 consultees responded to the consultation.

99.7% of consultees responding selected one of the prompted 21 Essex recycling centres when asked which they typically visit. As such it should be considered that this report summarises response to the proposals from recycling centre users as opposed to Essex residents in general. 

The majority of consultees indicated they have booked to visit a recycling centre online since the process was introduced in 2022 (88%). 1% indicated they have booked the recycling centre by telephone (via ECC’s contact centre). 11% indicated they haven’t used the recycling centre booking system.

Headline findings:

• 58% of consultees indicated they agree with the proposal to keep a booking process for cars for all recycling centres in Essex. 39% indicated they disagree with the proposal. 3% indicated they were unsure.
• A comparably higher proportion of residents living in Castle Point, Colchester, Harlow, Rochford and Tendring agree with the proposal for cars. A comparably lower proportion of residents living in Brentwood, Chelmsford, Epping Forest and Uttlesford indicated they agree with the proposal.
• Agreement levels with retaining a booking process for vans are high with 72% of consultees indicating they agree with the proposal to keep a booking process for vans, pick-up trucks and vehicles with double-axle trailers at the nine van-friendly recycling centres in Essex. 14% indicated they disagree with the proposal. 14% indicated they were unsure.
• A comparably higher proportion of residents living in Basildon, Castle Point, Colchester, Harlow, Rochford, Tendring indicated they agree with the proposal to keep a booking process for vans. A comparably lower proportion of residents living in Brentwood, Chelmsford, Epping Forest and Uttlesford indicated they agree with the proposal to keep a booking process for vans.
• There were a number of questions that allowed consultees to provide free-text comments relating to the proposals for cars and vans  and suggestions for the future of the booking process.  Details will be provided within the full consultation report which will be made available soon.

Consultee profile:

• The recycling centres with the highest proportion of consultation responses is consistent with the busiest recycling centres in the County - Saffron Walden Recycling Centre, Chelmsford Recycling Centre, Braintree Recycling Centre, Colchester Recycling Centre, Harlow Recycling Centre and Clacton Recycling Centre.
• The majority of consultees indicated they use a car when visiting the recycling centre (96%). 4% indicated they use a car with a single axle trailer and 5% indicated they use a van or pick-up truck (respondents could tick all vehicle types that applied).  Less than 1% indicated they travelled by bicycle or on foot.

The consultation forms part of a range of evidence collected throughout the pilot which has been used to inform a final decision on the future of the recycling centre booking process.  The decision to retain a booking process permanently was taken on 27 February 2024.

The consultation has also provided us with a wealth of valuable feedback on the booking process and suggestions for service enhancements which we will consider in due course.