PEOPLE in the south of the borough at last have a chance to dump the recyclables and bulky rubbish that has been piling up.
Four weekend sessions have been arranged following the controversial closure of the waste and recycling site in Rigby Lane, Hayes, a year ago.
The site is managed by waste disposal company SITA on behalf of Hillingdon Council and shut last November to allow drainage problems to be resolved.
The unexpected scale of the work, and stalled negotiations regarding the increased cost of managing the site, meant that the original completion date of March 2009 was pushed back. The reopening date is not yet known.
People have had to use the next nearest recycling centre, at New Years Green Lane, in Harefield, which is six miles from Rigby Lane. The shortage of facilities has also led to an increase in fly-tipping in the area.
There has been concern about the lack of progress and information regarding the site's reopening, and the authority hopes the four waste and recycling weekends will ease residents' worries and provide them with a more convenient place to offload their rubbish.
However, Councillor Phoday Jarjussey, of Botwell ward, says the temporary measures will do little to address a problem that has gone on for too long.
"These weekends will only scratch the surface. Residents will still have to travel to dispose of their rubbish, and the money that will be used to finance this will come directly from taxpayers, and would be better spent on developing a long-term solution," he said.
The 'dumper days' are on November 28 and 29, January 9 and 10, February 27 and 28 and March 27 and 28 at the railway sidings in Tavistock Road, West Drayton. Opening hours are 9am to 4pm.
Commercial vehicles and vans disposing of trade waste are not permitted and are instead advised to use the Harefield site, where a fee may be payable.
* For further information, visit the council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk/recycling , or call the customer contact centre on 01895 556 000.
