Waitrose says its recycling bins will remain open following outcry

Waitrose on Ecclesall Road said it had to remove the recycling bins for hygiene and safety reasons following a series of incidents where the bins were misused and there was fly tipping.

It announced the closure after being served with an enforcement notice by Sheffield Council and threatened with a fixed penalty and potential prosecution due to ongoing fly tipping on the site linked to the bins in the shop’s car park.

The store paused its decision following an outcry from local residents who said it was one of the few places in the city where tetrapaks can be recycled.

Ecclesall councillors Shaffaq Mohammed and Barbara Masters met with Marc De Haviland, the deputy branch manager, to find a solution.

Mr De Haviland said: “We have had positive discussions with both the council and the waste management company and believe we have found a good solution that will mean the facility can remain open.

“This includes increasing collections, increasing cleaning and installing additional bins.”

The councillors and Waitrose both agree that moving the facility deeper into the car parking area which has better CCTV coverage would have a significant impact on some of the fly tipping problems.

Coun Mohammed said: “We saw for ourselves the amount of waste dumped around and on top of the bin and since the first visit, the improvements to the site.

“A lot has been done by Waitrose to find solutions to this problem that afflicts many parts of Sheffield and we’re asking people to be responsible with their rubbish.

“The store hopes that, with better support from the council and Veolia, the problems at the recycling facility can be kept under control.”

Coun Masters added: “Waitrose is optimistic that conditions will improve significantly once the measures are in place and that they will stay that way.

“We do not want to see it close so my plea to residents is to use the site responsibly otherwise we risk losing this invaluable community facility.”

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