A council is looking to implement a booking system for waste recycling sites.

East Sussex County Council hopes the move will save £50,000 annually as it looks to fill a projected budget deficit of £55 million for the next year.

If approved, a booking portal would be introduced for residents to book slots to drop items off at one of East Sussex’s ten tips.

It is hoped the system would reduce queueing, stop trade waste being taken to tips and stop people from outside East Sussex using the facilities.

Councillor Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, said: “Despite saving more than £140 million over the past decade, reductions in funding and increasing demand for services means the county council will have to make some difficult choices in order to balance the budget next year.

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“I stress that no decisions have been made and it is important that councillors have all the information they need to make those decisions when setting the budget for 2025/26.

“We are in a fortunate position to be able to look at the impact booking systems have had on neighbouring authorities but we also need to understand how any changes will affect East Sussex residents and I would encourage people to give their feedback during the consultation period.

“We know that there are concerns that booking systems could lead to an increase in flytipping, but a 2023 report commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) found no evidence of a rise in flytipping linked to the introduction of booking schemes, and councils who have implemented scheme have not experienced any increases.

“Feedback and concerns raised during the consultation will be taken into account when councillors make a decision when they come to set the budget in February 2025.”

A consultation was launched on Monday and will run until December 22.

People can give their views on the East Sussex County Council consultation website.