Rubbish News? Phone Bookings to Be Scrapped for Hampshire Recycling Centres

If you’re used to picking up the phone to book a slot at your local tip, you might want to get tech-savvy soon… because from March next year, Hampshire County Council is going fully digital. That’s right, no more telephone bookings or payments for household waste recycling centres.

What’s Changing?

In a move dubbed part of the council’s “digital-first” strategy, all bookings will now have to be made online. That includes:

• Booking your slot to visit a recycling centre

• Getting a permit if you’re using a van or trailer

• Paying for services, where applicable

Paper permits? Out. Phone lines? Cut off. It’s all going through a brand-new digital system, provided by a company called Pentagull, under a £200,000 four-year contract. (Yes, Pentagull sounds like a Bond villain, but apparently, they’re here to streamline your rubbish.)

Why the Change?

The council said the current system was:

• Too expensive to run

• Too slow to respond to users

• Not in line with their “digital-first” communication goals

In other words, tech is cheaper, faster, and they’d rather spend money on better systems than phone support.

But What About Vulnerable Residents?

Here’s where things get a bit trickier. The council admits that this could make life harder for some people, particularly the elderly, disabled residents, and those in rural areas where internet access isn’t always reliable.

However, they’ve promised to:

• Make the website more accessible

• Offer support for people with special communication needs

Still, no actual phone line is being offered for support, which, let’s be honest, could prove a real challenge for some.

The Details (A Quick Rundown)

• Digital-only bookings from March 2026

• No more telephone support

• Van and trailer users need new digital permits

• Pentagull awarded £200k to build and run the system

• Portsmouth and Southampton are expected to chip in about 10% of the cost

Where Can You Still Go?

Hampshire County Council runs 24 household waste recycling centres across the region, and Portsmouth locals regularly use several of them. So if you’re planning a big garden clear-out or finally getting rid of that ancient sofa, it’s time to get clicking.

Our Take?

While digital can be great for speed and convenience, we hope the promised accessibility support delivers, and no one’s left struggling to manage their waste. Not everyone’s a digital native, and not every rural internet connection is up to snuff.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for updates — and maybe give your grandparents a heads-up too. Or better yet… offer to book it for them! 💚

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