Isle of Wight resident takes just two small items to Lynnbottom Tip — and dozens fail to use their booked slots

And 61 people booked a slot and failed to turn up within the first three days.

It has led to the Isle of Wight Council reminding people they should only consider visiting the tip if it is genuinely essential.

Workers at the Lynnbottom Household Waste and Recycling Centre were surprised by the delivery of such small items.

Read more and watch a video: WATCH Cones and speed limit as Lynnbottom tip re-opens with reduced capacity

Natasha Dix, the council's strategic manager for waste, said: "This is clearly not waste that is too dangerous to be stored at home, nor an essential journey.

"Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident and we are disappointed to see that in the first three days there were 61 occasions where residents failed to turn up for booked slots that could have been used by someone with real need.

"Booking and making a journey to recycling centres must only be undertaken if your waste or recycling cannot be stored at home safely or disposed of safely by other means.

"Residents failed to turn up for booked slots that could have been used by someone with real need."

Natasha Dix, Isle of Wight Council

"We do urge residents to remember that all excess recycling will be taken on recycling week. This includes cardboard paper, magazines, books, plastic packaging, plastic bottles, plastic bags, tubs and pots, tins and cans, glass bottles and jars and even textiles and shoes.

“Food waste is also taken weekly and should not be placed in your black bins.

"If you are missing any recycling bins, sacks or bags or need a second recycling bin please order them for free on the council's recycling and waste pages and order online. There is a fee for replacement black bins.

"Please make use of this service and do not place these items in your rubbish bin nor take to the recycling centre.

"If you can temporarily store your waste or recycling in a way that does not pose a risk to yours or others safety or human health, then you must do so."

In order to maintain effective social distancing measures, people must book online at www.iwight.com/hwrcbooking

The system helped avoid queues on Briddlesford Road.

There are ten slots available to book per half-hour at Lynnbottom and five per half-hour at Afton Marsh.

Cllr Steve Hastings, cabinet member for recycling and waste, said: "So far the reopening and the new temporary systems to protect visitors and staff have run very smoothly and we want this to continue.

"However, I must emphasise that the reopening is not a return to normal. Public safety, and that of our staff and the need for social distancing is of the upmost importance."

UPDATE 9pm: A man has come forward to say he had a car full of garden waste as well as the two items.

UPDATE, May 15: Isle of Wight Council apologises for coathanger press release debacle