RESIDENTS are being told to consider delaying a visit to their local recycling centre over Christmas and New Year as they're expected to be even busier than usual due to the pandemic.

Recycling centres are always very busy at this time of year as people generate more household waste than usual during the festivities, however this has been amplified due to the coronavirus restrictions causing people to spend far more time at home.

To help cope with any extra demand, some of the smaller recycling centres which are usually closed on two weekdays will be opening between Christmas and New Year.

However the council's message remains to make best use of normal household waste collections, and if people have extra waste to dispose of, delay visiting until later into the New Year if they can.

Due to the expected high demand there will be no appointments available for vans or trailers to visit the recycling centres between 27 December 2020 and 3 January 2021.

People are also asked to check the county council's website to remind themselves of the restrictions at recycling centres which are still in place due to the need to ensure people can visit safely and maintain social distancing due to the ongoing pandemic.

All Household Waste Recycling Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

The larger sites will continue to open 7 days a week as usual. Barnoldswick, Burscough, Carnforth, Clitheroe, Haslingden and Longridge are usually closed on two weekdays, but will now also be open from Monday 28 December to Thursday 31 December.

County Cllr Albert Atkinson, cabinet member with responsibility for waste management, said: "Our recycling centres are usually very busy after Christmas and into the New Year as people want to recycle the extra waste which they generate over the festive period, and visitors can usually expect queues at this time of year.

"However there's the potential for even greater pressure on our recycling centres this Christmas due to the pandemic and people generating even more household waste, particularly due to the restrictions on the hospitality industry, and the increase in home deliveries.

"We're therefore asking people to make best use of their usual household waste collections, and check on any changes to collection days over the festive period, and if they still have extra waste which they want to bring to a recycling centre, to delay their visit if they can.

"At the same time, we're doing all we can to prepare for any extra pressure on our recycling centres, and help residents as much as possible by having all of them open for four days between Christmas and New Year, including those smaller sites which would usually be closed on those weekdays.

"A condition of visiting is that people observe the coronavirus restrictions and respect our staff, as we have a duty to protect them and will not tolerate any abuse or aggression towards them."