RECYCLING centres will ditch their number-plate entry system on Monday (July 13).

During lockdown, sites in the Borders had restricted access to drivers depending on whether their number plate has an odd or even number.

But Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has announced it is dropping the system, extending opening hours and accepting kerbside rubbish.

From Monday, the centres will open at 10am on weekdays and close at 4.45pm, with weekends 9am-4.45pm.

As was the case before the pandemic, the sites will be closed on one day a week (two days at Selkirk and Eyemouth).

SBC chief executive Tracey Logan said: "We are now at a stage where the majority of waste types are being accepted.  “The next step as part of the phased recovery is to change the operating hours back to what they were before lockdown.

"This will increase the number of hours sites are open each day.

“It will also significantly reduce the number of staff that are required to support the current operating model.

“This will assist the council's wider recovery plan allowing support staff to return to their normal jobs."

All sites will close between 1.15pm and 2pm to allow staff to take a lunch break.

Some regulations will remain in place, including: a maximum of five bags of waste at a time are to be brought to any centre; only one person per household should travel to a recycling centre; and no trailers or horse-boxes will be accepted.

Opening hours are as follows:

Weekdays (Monday to Friday):

· Morning: 10.00am - 1.15pm

· Afternoon: 2.00pm - 4.45pm

Weekend (Saturday and Sunday):

· Morning: 9.00am - 1.15pm

· Afternoon: 2.00pm - 4.45pm

Weekday closures:

· Duns - Thursday

· Eshiels (Peebles) - Wednesday

· Eyemouth - Tuesday and Friday

· Galashiels - Tuesday

· Hawick - Wednesday

· Kelso - Monday

· Selkirk - Monday and Friday