Mechanical failures at the Tynes Bay waste facility prompted Works and Engineering to switch trash pickup days yesterday. W&E's Emergency Waste Disposal Contingency Plan was invoked and today W&E crewmen will be out in the western parishes.

Tomorrow, they will be in the East End. Equipment in a storage bunker has broken down and it is now at full capacity.

To avoid a fire, the Ministry has organised for waste to be dropped at the Marsh Folly site. However, the domestic drop-off facility will operate as normal.

Starting today, waste haulers must get loads weighed at Tynes Bay then go to Marsh Folly, and produce the ticket.

The Ministry announced that the operating times of the Tynes Bay Weigh Scale will be from today, 7.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and tomorrow from 7.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Sunday it will be closed and next week it will be open normal hours. The Ministry thanked the waste disposal firms for their co-operation today and sincerely apologises for any inconvenience.