New Household Recycling Centre Booking System

Later this year (2025), we will be introducing a booking system at four of our Household Recycling Centres (HRCs): Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury, and Sherborne. 

The remaining six centres (Bridport, Swanage, Weymouth, Portland, Wareham and Ferndown) will continue to operate as usual - without slot bookings - while the council looks to strengthen its measures to prevent commercial misuse.

This change is designed to protect services, reduce costs, improve the overall experience, and make funding fairer for residents. With a simple online process, residents will be able to reserve their preferred date and time slot in advance.

The new booking system is expected to be introduced in autumn 2025. More information will be provided when the launch date is confirmed.

How it will work

The online booking system will allow visitors to select a convenient 30 minute time slot by providing basic details such as name, address, and vehicle registration. If your plans change, you will be able to easily cancel or reschedule your booking online.

If you don’t have internet access, you can ask someone to make the booking for you. If this isn’t possible, you will be able to take your waste to the recycling centre without a booking and speak to a member of staff when you arrive. You’ll be able to book a slot over the phone in the future, sometime after the system launches.

Why we are making this change

Like many other councils we are facing serious financial pressures. The new booking system will deliver significant annual savings, including £100,000 at Shaftesbury and Sherborne alone. Both of these sites see high use from residents outside of the Dorset Council area. There are potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds to be saved with future efficiencies, with other councils reporting annual savings of up to £650,000 a year.

Fairer for Dorset Council taxpayers

Currently, Dorset Council pays £435,000 to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) so Dorset residents can use their recycling centres. However, BCP residents have been using Dorset Council sites for free. Under the new system, non-Dorset Council residents will still be able to book visits, but they’ll now pay a fee to help cover the cost of their waste disposal, and site maintenance. Dorset Council residents will continue to be able to visit our HRCs with no additional charge, and there are no plans to introduce access fees in the future.

The system will also help prevent misuse by commercial operators posing as household users, further reducing disposal costs and ensuring fair use of public services.

Environmental and operational benefits

Introducing a booking system isn’t just about saving money or reducing queues. It also supports Dorset Council’s environmental goals. 

With better control over site access, staff can spend more time assisting visitors and managing waste, which leads to higher recycling rates and less waste incinerated or sent to landfill.

Proven and practical

Nearly half of England’s councils have already introduced booking systems at their recycling centres. Dorset Council’s system is based on successful models used elsewhere, with lessons learned from councils that have refined their approach over time.

Concerns about fly-tipping are understandable, but the evidence doesn’t support a link between booking systems and increased illegal dumping. A DEFRA study of 54 councils found no significant rise in fly-tipping after similar systems were introduced. 

Smarter services, not cuts

Booking a slot will be done easily in a couple of minutes online, and for those who do not use the internet, a telephone booking option will also be introduced in due course.

Those people unable to book online from day one can still take their waste to an HRC where they will be given assistance with using the new system on site. Most bookings can be made for the same day, and there is no limit on the number of visits for most vehicles. Visitors can arrive at any point during their allocated half-hour slot, and anyone arriving late can simply speak to site staff before unloading their waste.

Key features of the new system

The key features of the new booking system are:

• flexible scheduling - book as many visits as needed (with some vehicle type exclusions), including multiple slots on the same day
• advance and same day booking - secure your preferred date and time up to 14 days in advance or, if available, on the same day
• no worries about temporary closures - bookings remain valid even during skip changes or site compaction
• reuse area access - visitors accessing only the reuse areas will still need to make a booking
• on-foot or bicycle access - neighbouring residents who access our centres on foot or by bicycle will also be required to make a booking

What will stay the same

All existing arrangements including:

• opening hours
• accepted waste types
• vehicle and trailer restrictions
• permit requirements
• chargeable items

Important information for non Dorset Council residents

Visitors who live outside of the Dorset Council administrative area are welcome to use our Household Recycling Centres. However, please note:

• a non-refundable booking fee will apply for each visit
• additional charges may also apply depending on the type of waste being disposed of
• you cannot visit in a vehicle that requires a permit