Lancaster rubbish tip was shut due to 'waste backlog caused by M6 closures'

Wednesday, 12 March 2025 14:12

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Lancaster tip has been shut because workers were trying to clear a backlog of waste caused by motorway closures in the area, a councillor said.

Salt Ayre recycling centre was closed for some of Wednesday, said residents, after also being shut for part of Tuesday.

After queries from people who had tried to gain access to the tip on Wednesday morning without success, Morecambe County Councillor Charlie Edwards said he would look into it.

He later posted on his Facebook page: "The motorway closures this week have caused a complete backlog in the system: the wagons used to empty the tip haven’t been able to get to Salt Ayre or get where they need to then dispose of the waste, so all the bins at Salt Ayre are now full and hence why there has been no access today.

"It isn’t just Lancaster tip, it’s across the network.

"I’ve been told that they are clearing the backlog as quickly as they can and Lancaster will be back open fully as soon as possible. I will put a further post out when I get that confirmation.

"I have asked that if anyone has a tip run booked in today that they can get it rearranged as soon as possible."

Residents, posting on social media on Wednesday afternoon, said the tip was open although there were large queues of traffic to get in.

Salt Ayre recycling centre, on Salt Ayre Lane off Ovangle Road, is usually open from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week.

All vans and trailers (including single axle trailers) must make an appointment to visit a recycling centre.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said on Wednesday: "Recent closures on the M6 caused traffic issues and impacted a number of recycling centres to the north and west of Preston as our transport contractor could not get to them to service them.

"The transport contractor drafted in extra wagons in a bid to catch up. Lancaster had to close briefly this morning but reopened after an hour.

"We apologise for any inconvenience that this caused."