Residents only at Villiers Road (RBK website)

From 1 October 2007 Residents of the borough will need to take proof of residence with them when visiting the Villiers Road Household Refuse and Recycling Centre (HRRC).

The following documents will be accepted as proof of residence:

• A special HRRC permit.  These permits are being sent to every household in the borough along with an explanatory letter.  Residents who have not received their permits by Monday 1 October should contact the Environmental Services Customer Care Team on 020 8547 5560 or email environment@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
• A current Council Tax bill or payment book
• A residents’ controlled parking zone permit (in date)
• A Freedom Pass (in date) identifying Kingston upon Thames as the person’s ‘Borough of Residence’.

Drivers’ licences, utility bills, phone bills, credit card bills, bank statements and other financial documents will not be accepted.

The decision to allow only residents of the borough to use the Villiers Road site for free has been taken in an effort to further increase recycling rates in Kingston and reduce waste disposal costs.

Layout changesResidents who visit the Villiers Road site will find that the permit system is not the only change.  A number of improvements have been made to the layout of the site to make is easier and quicker for people who only want to visit the recycling banks.

Two dedicated recycling lanes now serve all of the recycling banks (for cardboard, paper, glass, cans, plastic bottles, small electrical items, textiles, engine oil, car batteries and even fluorescent lamps), which are now conveniently situated in one location.

Access to the upper level (for garden waste, larger electrical items, wood/timber, metal, up to 25kg of rubble and non-recyclable general waste) has also been improved with a new relief lane open on Saturday afternoons and all day Sundays to ease traffic congestion and improve safety.

There is also a new walk-in recycling facility just inside the main gate for people arriving on foot or by bicycle.

A new height restriction barrier has been installed to restrict access for vehicles over six feet (1.8m) in height.   All trade vehicles will be redirected across the weighbridge and charged by weight for their load. Residents with high vehicles, such as 4x4s, will now be directed into the tipping shed and assisted by site staff.

Residents who would like advice or information on the new permit scheme or layout should visit the tip pages or contact the Environmental Services Customer Care Team on 020 8547 5560 or email environment@rbk.kingston.gov.uk