SOME of Bradford's waste tips will re-open by Monday - but people have been urged to use them only if necessary.

The tips have been shut since late March due to the Coronavirus lockdown - with staff re-deployed to other areas.

After a long wait, it has been announced that a number of centres will open by Monday "at the latest" - although further details will not be announced until later this week.

Waste sites in Greater Manchester re-opened over the weekend, and saw huge queues of traffic even before they opened their gates.

Bradford Council has advised residents to wait "a week or two" to dump their waste if they can in an effort to avoid gridlock near waste sites.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: "Details of which of our HWRC sites will be open, and their opening times, will be announced later this week once guidance from Government has been received and details have been finalised.

Reopening of tips will have to be co-ordinated throughout West Yorkshire to avoid huge queues

"We are working with other local authorities in West Yorkshire to co-ordinate the resumption of services across the county.

"Safety will remain the priority and we would ask anyone using the sites to comply with all the social distancing rules when throwing rubbish away and queuing.

"We would also ask people not to use the sites unless absolutely necessary at this time. We want to avoid massive queues of traffic on nearby roads.

"The HWRCs were closed because of the need to reduce non-essential travel and protect the safety of the public and staff, as well as prioritising bin collections in the face of staff shortages due to many workers having to self-isolate.

"Now the staffing situation has stabilised we can start to re-examine all our waste services. 

"Please do not be tempted to fly-tip large unwanted items. It is illegal and anti-social. If you see anyone fly-tipping please note down as many details as possible, especially vehicle registration numbers, and inform the Council using the website (https://www.bradford.gov.uk/transport-and-travel/report-issues/report-fly-tipping/) or telephone number 01274 431000."

Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “Please don’t rush out with all your rubbish as soon as the sites are open.

“You could end up queuing for ages and putting yourself at risk.

"If you can wait a week or two, please do so. We appreciate your patience while we do our best to get the service back to as normal as we can.”