Purpose and scope
To ensure the safe, legal, and environmentally responsible acceptance of hazardous waste at Dorset Council’s Household Recycling Centres (HRCs), in line with operational procedures and UK waste legislation.
This policy applies to all Dorset Council HRCs and covers the acceptance of household hazardous waste from residents only. Commercial hazardous waste is strictly prohibited.
Accepted hazardous waste types
The following hazardous waste types may be accepted. Charges may be applicable at the time of deposit:
- cement-bonded asbestos (only accepted at Weymouth, Wareham, and Blandford HRCs, restrictions apply)
- paints and solvents
- batteries (household and car)
- gas bottles (charges apply)
- tyres (charges apply)
- vapes and e-cigarettes
- persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (for example, certain upholstered furniture)
- fluorescent tubes and bulbs
- household chemicals, such as cleaning/garden chemicals (restrictions apply)
Conditions for acceptance:
- asbestos must be pre-booked, double-bagged, and clearly labelled. Improperly contained asbestos will be refused
- the customer will be responsible for removing asbestos from the vehicle and placing it in the skip. To avoid bags breaking, material must be placed in the skip carefully and not thrown in
- gas bottles and tyres incur a disposal charge. Payment must be arranged with site staff before unloading
- paints and solvents must be in sealed containers. Leaking or unlabelled containers will not be accepted
- chemicals can only be accepted in the quantities associated with typical use within the home. Where a person is moving into a new home, the chemicals from garages and sheds is the responsibility of the previous owner
Quantity limits
To prevent misuse and ensure safety the following limitations apply to hazardous waste to keep it in line with normal household use:
- asbestos: a maximum one-off deposit of up to three cement-bonded sheets of:
- 1.8m x 1.2m (approx. 6ft x 4ft) or,
- a maximum of 6 bags. A bag is equivalent to a small, plastic, sand/aggregate bag from standard DIY stores. The bag should be able to be carried safely by one person
- 2 bags equates to 1 sheet if taking a combination of sheets/bags
- asbestos: is only able to be taken to Weymouth, Wareham or Blandford HRCs. The remaining sites do not have a licence to accept it
- household chemicals: secure in original labelled container. Maximum 5 litres per visit
- the contractor shall not be entitled to accept any hazardous waste in excess of this limit
If a customer attempts to deliver hazardous waste that exceeds the permitted limits, or attends without pre-booking asbestos, the site staff may refuse acceptance and report the matter to Dorset Council’s Waste Management Team if repeated or considered contentious.
Site rules
See our full site rules. In addition, please note the following:
- all users must follow instructions given by site staff
- residents who pay Council Tax to a local authority other than Dorset Council are subject to a non-refundable charge
- the Site Manager’s decision is final regarding site entry, accepted materials, and any applicable charges
- children and pets must remain inside vehicles at all times
- abuse or threatening behaviour towards staff, or other site users, will result in removal from site and may lead to legal action
- CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems are in operation to support safety, security, crime prevention, and access management
- where applicable, Dorset Council’s Vehicle Permit Policy applies