East Sussex Rubbish Tip Booking System Set For Review After User Concerns

A booking system for household waste recycling sites across East Sussex is set to be reviewed after councillors raised concerns that some residents feel "dissatisfied and excluded".

East Sussex County Council has unanimously agreed to launch a scrutiny review into the system, which operates at the authority's 10 household waste recycling sites.

The booking scheme was introduced in November last year, but councillors Kathryn Field and Stephen Holt called for a review after concerns were raised about its impact on residents who do not use the online system.

Councillor Field said the issue was not with how the service was working for those using it, but with people being excluded from accessing the service.

She suggested returning to the previous system, which she said had worked well.

Other councillors backed calls for a review, raising concerns about the scheme's popularity, effectiveness and claims it may have contributed to an increase in fly-tipping.

However, council officers said the booking system had reduced the amount of waste processed at recycling sites by more than expected and estimated keeping it in place for the rest of the year could save around £580,000.

Councillor Holt challenged those figures, saying council data showed an increase in waste collected over a six-month period.

He said:

"This council's own figures show an increase of nearly 20 tonnes over the six-month period.

"That is a rise of over eight per cent... it is actually the weight of five mature African elephants."

A further proposal from Councillor Julia Hilton to carry out a detailed review through the council's Place Scrutiny Committee was accepted.

Councillor Field said the amendment achieved the same aim as the original motion and would allow a closer look at the future of the booking system.