Aberdeen City Council’s administration has called for the power to reopen recycling centres.
Leader of the independent group at the Town House Marie Boulton has called on the Scottish Government to urgently review restrictions on access the city’s tips, even “on a restricted basis”.
It comes after the UK Government issued guidance allowing local authorities to reopen home waste recycling centres.
Mrs Boulton said: “We all firmly believe in obeying the measures to ensure this pandemic is defeated as quick as possible.
“However, where we can ease people’s lives within the guidelines we should be working to provide services to meet the needs of householders.
“Aberdeen City Council has worked extremely hard to reduce waste and increase the rates of recycling.”
Her calls have been backed by opposition Liberal Democrat councillors, as long as it is done safely to protect peoples’ health.
A Scottish Government spokesman said work was continuing with council umbrella body Cosla, local authorities and other partners to sustain waste and recycling services and to address ongoing issues.
He said: “This includes consideration of how household waste recycling centres could operate in a way that is compatible with physical distancing requirements and wider restrictions on public travel.”
Meanwhile Aberdeenshire Council has warned fly-tippers they will be fined as more and more incidents are reported.
Waste services manager Ros Baxter said her teams would serve penalties on those who flout the law, and reminded residents leaving bags of rubbish at the gates of council facilities constituted fly-tipping.