Local authorities in the north of the island are hopeful they will be able to open the northern amenity site soon.

A statement from the operators of the Northern Civic Amenity Site at Balladoole is asking people to reduce their waste as much as they can.

The northern authorities say they are ’working closely with Government to try and open the site as soon as possible and put restrictions in place to ensure everyone’s safety’.

They added: ’We appreciate that these are uncertain and frightening times, however we would be grateful if people could bear with us and either put their waste to one side or put it through the household bin collections if permitted.

’It would be really helpful for both of these options if you could clean items of recycling and compact them as flat as you can to save space. Cardboard boxes should be fully opened and folded instead of squashed to get maximum space saving.

’Those garden projects you’ve been holding out for time for, should still be kept on the shelf unless you have space to store or compost them. Keep garden maintenance to the bare minimum. The likelihood is that if we are allowed to open green waste space may be limited.’