RESIDENTS are being advised to visit rubbish tips only “if absolutely necessary”.

Household waste recycling sites in Old Shoreham Road in Hove and off Wilson Avenue in Brighton are set to reopen on Monday next week.

But Brighton and Hove City Council is urging residents to avoid the sites unless they cannot store waste at home without it causing a risk of injury, health or harm to the members of the household or others.

Instead, kerbside collection services for black bag waste, recycling and garden waste should be used where possible.

Opening times for the two recycling sites are still to be finalised and will be announced on the council’s social media pages and website.

Queues are expected and the number of visitors will be limited to ensure social distancing. As numbers will be limited, entry cannot be guaranteed if visitors arrive towards the end of the day.

If the access road to the site is full, the council asks that people reconsider coming back another time instead.

The sites are expected to be especially busy at weekends and at lunchtime during the week.

Large vans and trailers will not be permitted as they take up more space, and people are asked to park in every other bay to ensure a physical distance with others.

Site staff will be unable to help with heavy lifting due to social distancing, so if an item is too heavy, people are asked to leave it on a walkway and staff will come and collect it when it is safe.

Commercial waste is still not accepted at the sites, and must be taken to a licenced commercial waste facility.

Residents must not visit the recycling sites if they symptomatic with coronavirus, extremely vulnerable or in a 14-day self-isolation period.