Council secures future of Ayr recycling centre

This is an archived article from 9 March 2023. 

South Ayrshire Council has today (9 March) purchased the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) and Waste Transfer Station at Heathfield in Ayr from Barr Environmental.

The HWRC deals with an estimated 8,000 tonnes of household waste each year and is crucial to South Ayrshire's waste recycling targets.

Barr Environmental stopped taking commercial waste from businesses at the site on Friday 3 March and household waste from residents on Tuesday 7 March at 6:00pm due to the transfer of ownership.

The Council will take over the running of the site from today, 9 March. The HWRC will be closed on 9 and 10 March to allow for transfer of staff, systems, and maintenance. The booking system is still in place, so residents can make a booking from Saturday 11 March at 9:00am, when normal service will resume.

Councillor Martin Kilbride, Buildings, Housing and Environment Portfolio Holder for South Ayrshire Council said: "This is an important intervention by the Council and key to our ongoing waste strategy. Staff at the site have been transferred over to the Council so there are no redundancies.

"It was important to us to limit the impact on residents; however the short closure is essential to allow us to update systems, change signage, and make sure the site is ready for Saturday 11 March.

"Commercial customers are welcome to continue using the site when it's run by the Council, and we are advising them to contact us for more information."

Chris Edwards, Barr Environmental's Operations Director, said: "As part of a business review we have sold the HWRC and Waste Transfer Station to South Ayrshire Council. We are working closely with them to ensure the smooth transfer of people and systems to allow for the sites to be open to the public again as soon as possible."

To make a booking for household waste, residents will need to register for an E-permit by going to www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/recycling-centres or by phoning 0300 123 0900. A Council Tax reference number is required.

Commercial customers will still be able to use the site when it's operated by the Council, for more information email commercialwaste@south-ayrshire.gov.uk or call 01292 616436.