AS tips in Bolton gear up to accept more waste items from tomorrow, the leader of the council has thanked residents for helping the reopening of household waste and recycling centre to run smoothly.

Tips in the area and across Greater Manchester will start to accept recyclable items , with residents being allowed to dispose of garden waste, cardboard, paper and wood.

General waste will continue to be accepted.

Residents will not yet be able to take their electrical items, white goods, mattresses or rubble.

Containers for these items will be put in place over the coming weeks.

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said: “I promised I would continue to press for this and I am really pleased that the range of materials being accepted has increased.

“Social distancing must still be adhered to and I would like to thank our residents for working with us to ensure the re-openings have gone smoothly.”

The newly accepted materials can be dumped into the bulk skips on site.

Tips will also be increasing the number of cars able to dump their rubbish at any time, although social distancing must still be followed on site.

Cars with odd number plates are allowed on some days, while even number plates are allowed on others.

Town Hall chiefs say that the restrictions and safety measures that have helped to ensure the success of the partial reopening of the facilities will remain in place.

These include:

n Social distancing, with only one person allowed out of a vehicle and staff are not able to help with unloading vehicles

n Traffic control system based on vehicle registration to limit visitor numbers. People are urged to check the Recycle for Greater Manchester website before they set off and are asked to bring a proof of address with them.

n Restricted opening hours will be in operation.

The Raikes Lane centre will be open every day from 8am to 6pm and the Salford Road centre will be open at weekends only.

The Salford Road centre will not be open during the week to ensure council refuse vehicles can continue to tip rubbish there daily, without being held up by potential queues of traffic.

The Salford Road centre will be open from Saturday 8am to 6pm and on Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

More information is available on the Bolton Council website.