The onset of spring brings not only lighter evenings and warmer weather but also a change to the opening hours of your local Household Recycling Centre (HRC).

From 1 April, the majority of sites will again be reverting to their summer operating times and will remain open for business from 8am until 7pm, seven days a week.

Hampshire County Council provides 24 sites for Hampshire residents to dispose of their bulky household and garden waste.

They receive over four million visitors every year bringing in 250,000 tonnes of rubbish for recycling or disposal, yet still achieve an impressive average recycling rate of around 60 per cent.

Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Environment, Councillor Mel Kendal, said: “Household Recycling Centres are one of the most popular and well-used services that the County Council provides. The longer opening hours through the summer months should prove useful for any spring cleaning taking place in the house or garden at this time of year.

“Householders are strongly encouraged to make the most of the longer opening hours and visit in the off-peak times as sites tend to be busier during the summer months, especially at weekends.”

Sites are generally less busy from 8–10am and 4.30–7pm, and on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The extended hours remain in place until 30 September, when most Hampshire sites close earlier for health and safety reasons.