Kent County Council's new Household Waste Recycling Centre is to open in Allington on Monday.

Built by FCC Environment, the site will be on two levels and has already been short-listed for an award in the "Best use of design and technology at a waste management facility" category at the awards for excellence in recycling and waste management.

It will be the 19th such site in Kent and will be sorely welcomed by the residents of Tovil who hope it will relieve some of the pressure on their roads from traffic using the waste recycling plant there, especially at Bank Holiday periods.

Located in Laverstoke Road, the new site falls within the borough of Tonbridge and Malling. It will be partly powered by solar panels. Adding to its green credentials, the aggregates in the road surfaces and kerbs contain recycled plastic, and there will also be rainwater harvesting.

The KCC-run centre will also contribute to the council’s ambition to meet net-zero carbon emissions across Kent by 2050.

The site will be open for recycling between 8am and 4.30pm on Monday to Saturdays, and 9am to 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

However, the public are reminded that ever since the pandemic, KCC has introduced a new booking system. Householders wanting to use the site must first book a half-hour slot online or by phone on 03000 417373. Booking is open now.