GOOD news for those with rubbish building up — the tips are to finally reopen for black sack, household waste.

Last night (Thursday) at a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council's cabinet, member for waste management, Cllr Steve Hastings announced the upcoming changes.

Since lockdown, restrictions have been in place at the Afton Marsh, in Freshwater, and Lynnbottom household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) which have slowly been eased after the initial closure of both sites to allow a Covid-secure operating environment.

A booking system is still in place, having been introduced in May, with residents only able to book a slot at the tips every two weeks.

Cllr Hastings said: "Because we have been in the pandemic situation of lockdown, some residents will have, what I am calling a lockdown backlog of general waste and black sacks.

"From Tuesday, September 15 residents will be able to take their black sacks to the household waste recycling centres."

Last month, a spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council said: "As long as social distancing is required, we cannot operate the sites as we used to."

The number of parking bays have been reduced to allow enough space between each car meaning only 12 of the 23 bays at Lynnbottom and four of the eight bays at Afton Marsh can be used.

In lockdown, kerbside collection crews picked up 11.8 per cent more general waste and 27 per cent more recycling and composting.

More details about the acceptance of black sack rubbish will be released at a later date.