Tips will reopen today after being shut for seven weeks – but residents are reminded they should only visit if it's essential.

Those driving there – access will be by vehicle only – should be prepared to wait in a queue as social distancing measures will limit the amount of people there can be on site at any one time.

Security staff will be at the sites to enforce the measures, and queuing vehicles may even be turned away if it gets too busy.

Dorset Council has moved to reopen its household recycling centres (HRCs) after government guidance on managing the facilities was updated. This guidance puts strong restrictions on use to help reduce non-essential journeys – householders should only take waste to a HRC if it cannot be stored safely at home and no alternative disposal options are available.

All of Dorset's HRCs will open (9am-6pm daily) with the exception of the Sherborne site due to highway safety concerns.

All usual waste types will be accepted, although re-use areas will remain closed.

Cllr Tony Alford, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Customer, Community and Regulatory Services, said:

"I want to emphasise, if you really need to take waste posing a hazard to a HRC, you must follow social-distancing guidelines at each site to protect the public and employees from the continuing pandemic. This will inevitably cause significant delays getting into each site, so we are kindly asking people who can continue to store waste safely to delay their trip to the recycling centre until restrictions are eased further."

Visitors are asked to note the following:

* Journeys to a HRC must only be undertaken if essential and your waste or recycling cannot be stored at home safely or disposed of safely by other means

* Do not assume that any HRC is open before setting off. Check the appropriate pages on the Dorset Council website

* Queues and waiting times to access each site will be much longer than usual, so expect significant delays

* You should not visit the HRC if you are unwell

* Visitors to HRCs must always observe social distancing

* HRC staff will not be able to assist with carrying items

* Stay in your vehicle while queuing

* Only one person should leave the vehicle to unload waste – (two if unloading heavy items)

* Household waste should be double-bagged and left for 72 hours before being taken to a HRC, and only if it cannot be collected at the kerbside

* Although all usual waste and material types can be dropped off, bring a maximum of two waste types per visit (e.g. garden waste and black bag waste)

* Charges still apply for some waste types, but contactless payments only

* On your return from the HRC do not touch your face and wash hands for 20 seconds on arrival at your destination