Waldo Road depot, which encompasses the Reuse and Recycling Centre, is undergoing planned infrastructure improvements, including installing fire prevention equipment and renewing drainage, which follows the Environment Agency regulatory guidance. The temporary closure of the Reuse and Recycling Centre throughout the duration of the much needed work will mean that the depot can continue to be able to be used as a waste transfer station, where all the Borough’s recycling and refuse collections are initially collected together before being transported out of the borough. This ensures that the recycling and waste collections and street cleansing services are not affected by the construction works and residents continue to receive their collections.
The council provides residents with a comprehensive collection service enabling residents to recycle and dispose of most common household items from their home. Garden waste can also be taken to one of the green garden waste temporary sites at the weekend, or residents can subscribe to the green garden waste wheelie bin collection service for just £70 for the year.
Where residents have household items that are in a good condition, it is encouraged that they are donated to charity for reuse, or via sites such as Freecycle, Freegle and Facebook Marketplace; passed on to friends or family; or sold via sites such as eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace. Some shops will provide a collection service for old furniture when purchasing new furniture, including beds etc - please check with them when you make your new purchase.
The council provides a bulky waste collection service for unwanted furniture, with different charges applying depending on what is being disposed of. Batteries can be taken to supermarkets for safe disposal. Small electrical items can be taken back to many stores, check RecycleYourElectricals.org.uk for your nearest location. When buying new electrical items, such as a washing machine or fridge freezer, the store will offer a collection and recycling service, often at a charge. Please check with the store when buying a new item. ao.com provide a standalone collect and recycle service on appliances.
The Council will continue to target fly-tipping and prosecute those who dump rubbish. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure that they dispose of their waste correctly and there are many options available for residents and businesses to dispose of waste properly and legally, with options also expanded whilst Waldo Road is closed. Whilst fly-tipping is comparatively rare, if you come across fly-tipping on the public highway, please report it. We work closely with the Veolia fly-tipping collection teams to ensure dumped rubbish is removed, with incidences investigated too.
There are a number of different ways to dispose of or recycle various items, including a number of alternative temporary locations for garden waste, with the garden waste locations being in operation each weekend across the borough. Our Churchfields Road Reuse and Recycling Centre will remain open, with a booking system in place to maximise efficiency in support of residents and also to minimise queuing time and related congestion.
