Long-heralded and controversial plans for a booking system at Shaftesbury recycling centre are to come into effect from Monday 23 March.

The idea was first mooted last summer by Dorset Council but were put on hold for Shaftesbury and some other recycling sites in the county after considerable local opposition.

However, the council’s new booking system to ‘keep household recycling centres fair and cost-effective’ will now come into operation at Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury and Sherborne in two weeks.

‘The aim is to make visits smoother, reduce queues, and ensure the service remains fair for Dorset taxpayers,’ says the council.

It adds: ‘At the moment, Dorset residents have to pay when they use recycling centres run by neighbouring councils. But their residents can use Dorset sites for free. This isn’t sustainable, and it means Dorset households are picking up costs for people who live elsewhere. Introducing a small charge for non-Dorset visitors puts this on a fair footing.

‘This change also tackles trade waste abuse. Our household sites are for residents’ waste only; businesses must use licensed facilities. The booking system will help our teams spot and stop business use, keeping costs down for Dorset taxpayers.’

Dorset Council says that booking takes only a couple of minutes, and same-day slots will be available. If a resident cannot book online, they can call the council who will do it for them.

Each site currently sees around 380 visits a day, it says. The new system offers 430 bookable slots daily per site, which can be reserved up to two weeks in advance. Visitors will have a 30-minute arrival window, and multiple bookings on the same day are allowed.

Councillor Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said: ‘We’ve listened to residents and designed a system that’s simple and fair. It improves the experience for Dorset households, ensures taxpayers aren’t covering waste disposal costs for neighbouring areas, and helps prevent business use of household sites. By reducing congestion and improving recycling efficiency, the system also supports a cleaner, greener Dorset.’

The council says that booking systems have a ‘proven track record’ and that independent reviews show they do not lead to more fly-tipping. Instead, they help councils manage demand effectively, boost recycling rates and deliver ‘high levels of public satisfaction’, it says.

The council concludes: ‘We know this is a change, but it means shorter waits, fairer use of services and better value for money for Dorset taxpayers. We’ll review the system regularly and listen to residents to keep improving.’

Bookings open from Monday 16 March.

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A short video explaining how to make a booking is available: https://youtu.be/AIotHJpYgfU

Find out more at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/recycling-centre-bookings or call the council for support.