The Letchworth tip is up and running again after works were carried out to double the number of drop off points.

Hertfordshire County Council – which manages the site – closed the site for two days while the improvements were carried out in order to reduce the amount of time people spend queuing to get into the site.

Richard Thake, who is responsible for waste management at Herts County Council, said: “This household recycling centre is very well-used by residents, but we know that queuing is sometimes a problem.

“We’ve explored options to extend the site but land that could possibly be available next to the centre is not suitable.

“Even if it was, expansion would be a very expensive and lengthy process due to planning and environmental considerations.

“Ultimately while relocation remains a priority, we’ve identified some short term measures to improve performance.

“By removing old and failing compaction equipment and re-thinking the site layout, we’ve been able to increase the number of drop off points from 13 to 28.

“This should significantly reduce queuing on the road outside the site.

“Improved access to containers and additional capacity for recyclable materials mean visitors will be able to dispose of their waste faster and spend less time at the centre.

“I believe this is good news for local residents as these changes should significantly improve their experience.

“However, we would also like to remind people that they can make use of their regular kerbside recycling rather than going to the tip, saving themselves both effort and time, particularly at this busy time of year.”