Devon could be set to get six new recycling centres to replace ones ‘not fit-for-purpose’ with ones that are a lot easier, safer and more convenient for the public across the county.

Devon County Council’s cabinet on Wednesday morning will be asked to endorse a strategy which sets out a vision for the modernisation of the current household waste and recycling centres to meet the demands of the 21st century.

The proposals, which councillors are recommended to approve, would see six new sites open to replace the current ‘not fit for purpose’ centre and to ensure that the Household Waste Recycling Centre service is well placed to meet the growing needs placed upon it.

Newton Abbot, Barnstaple, Tiverton, Honiton, Totnes and Kingsbridge, and Tavistock are identified in the report as areas where new centres are needed – with the cabinet also to be asked for approval be granted for the submission of a planning application for a replacement Household Waste Recycling Centre to serve the latter.

Meg Booth, Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste, in her report to Wednesday’s meeting, said: ‘There are still several older Household Waste Recycling Centre sites across Devon that are no longer fit for purpose and not suited to modern demands, leading to health and safety concerns and increasingly higher levels of customer dissatisfaction.’