Residents have been left livid after South Lanarkshire Council introduced a booking system for all of its dumps.

The local authority has revealed locals looking to take their rubbish to any Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in the area will now need to book a slot in advance.

The advanced bookings system will come into force from Monday, September 2, at waste facilities across the area.

READ MORE: South Lanarkshire Council to charge for garden waste collection

The council says the move follows a successful pilot period introduced at the HWRC in Carlike in 2022.

They say the decision to roll it out at all HWRCs was made at the Community and Enterprise Resources Committee in June this year.

However, the news has been met with disapproval from several locals after the council announced it on social media.

Residents across the area took to the Facebook comments of the local authority's post to express their feelings on the booking system.

(Image: Supplied)

One livid local said: "Disgusting. Already horsing me for nearly £300 a month council tax."

Another frustrated resident commented: "It will be carnage at East Kilbride and Blantyre but hoping it will settle down after a few weeks.

"If it stops the massive queues when they’re changing the containers over or flattening them down then it will be a big improvement."

A third added: "Why? All this will do is encourage people to fly-tip."

Another echoed the fly-tipping feelings by saying: "This will encourage fly-tipping."

Meanwhile, a fifth said: "Booking for dinner is one thing - booking for recycling is just bonkers!"

READ MORE: Council has now introduced £40 and £79 waste uplift charges

However, not every resident was angered at the news. Several locals expressed their approval of the changes.

One said: "I like the system. Beats queuing.

"I booked recently but had to change the slot as I was running late - took two seconds online and was confirmed immediately. No hassles."

A second added: "Can't wait for the bookings. Will be amazing."

Meanwhile, a third chimed: "Good news."

Announcing the news, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “The reasons for trialling the booking system were to reduce waiting times, reduce queuing on adjacent roads, reduce incidents of abuse to staff and ensure that the South Lanarkshire facilities are reserved for South Lanarkshire residents.

“We believe that introducing the booking system at our other HWRCs will have the same positive impact that the trial period at Carluke has had.

“We are aware that during busy periods the congestion on roads around our centres can have a negative impact on local residents and businesses, and the new system should help alleviate that.

“Overall I hope that, once the new booking system is bedded in and people are familiar with it, it will provide an improved service for local people as it has done in Carluke.”

Residents across the area can now book a slot online, however, bookings are not required from Monday, August 26 to Sunday, September 1.

Meanwhile, South Lanarkshire Council has said that the HWRCs remain free to non-trade residents, so there will be no charge to use the new booking system.