Durham County Council have made changes to all of its recycling centres for winter.

In recently announced changes, the local authority has revealed that it will be shortening the times of how long its recycling centres will stay open, in line with the time of year. 

According to the county council, most recycling centres will be open from 9am until 3.30pm each day, due to it reaching October and the morning and evenings drawing in and the council moving to winter opening hours. 

Read more: Wilko owes North East and North Yorkshire companies £9.7m

In a message on its website and social media, the council said: "A reminder that from the start of October, our Household Waste Recycling Centres have moved to winter opening hours.

"Most will be open 9am to 3.30pm but check www.durham.gov.uk/HWRC to find your nearest one.

"You can only use one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres if you live in the Durham County Council area. Staff at the sites may ask for proof of your address. If you live on the border of County Durham you should use the recycling centres provided by the council you pay council tax to."

However, shortly after issuing the update, several people took to the comments sections of community pages in Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland to air their views.

Commenting on the council's post, one person said: "This is ridiculous that you can just set these times - they're not convenient for everyone."

Meanwhile, another person said: "The timings given for the recycling centres are ridiculous - the council haven't thought about these at all."

In response to complaints on social media, Jo Blackie, Durham County Council’s strategic waste manager, said “The operation of summer and winter opening hours for our household waste recycling centres is nothing new, indeed it’s been in place for over ten years and is in line with practices throughout the rest of the country.

“Most people want to visit these facilities during daylight hours which is why we extend opening into the evening for a large part of the year. In the winter, when the nights draw in, it becomes a lot less cost effective to operate the facilities, which would need lighting and staffing at a time when a lot less people would use them.

“If visiting these facilities at a weekend is inconvenient, there are other options for disposing of waste including our bulky waste collection service.”

Here's all of the County Durham recycling centres:

  • Annfield Plain Household Waste Recycling Centre 
  • Coxhoe Household Waste Recycling Centre 
  • Frosterley Household Waste Recycling Centre 
  • Heighington Household Waste Recycling Centre 
  • Hett Hills Household Waste Recycling Centre
  • Horden Household Waste Recycling Centre
  • Middleton-in-Teesdale Household Waste Recycling Centre
  • Potterhouse Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre 
  • Romanway Household Waste Recycling Centre
  • Seaham Household Waste Recycling Centre
  • Stainton Grove Household Waste Recycling Centre
  • Thornley Household Waste Recycling Centre
  • Tudhoe Household Waste Recycling Centre