Our recycling centres are for household waste only.
What can be taken to our recycling centres
The following items are accepted:
- aerosols
- aluminium
- batteries
- books
- Brita water cartridges (water filters)
- cans
- car batteries
- cardboard
- carpet
- cartons (soup, juices etc)
- Christmas trees (fake)
- Christmas trees (real)
- coffee pods - separate bins for plastic pods and aluminium pods
- cooking oil
- cutlery
- electrical equipment
- engine oil (limited to 5 litres per visit)
- fire extinguishers (charges apply)
- foil
- food waste
- fridges and freezers
- furniture
- garden waste
- gas bottles (charges apply)
- glass bottles
- glass jars
- hardcore (you need to book a slot at one of our recycling centres to bring this item)
- hard plastics
- household and garden chemicals labelled (maximum 5 litres of each chemical)
- knives
- large domestic appliances
- lightbulbs - all types e.g. LED, fluorescent
- mattresses
- mobile phones
- paint
- paper
- paper containers with metal ends
- pillows and duvets
- plasterboard (you need to book a slot at one of our recycling centres to bring this item)
- plastic bottles
- printer and toner cartridges
- rubble (you need to book a slot at one of our recycling centres to bring this item)
- scissors
- scrap metal
- sheet glass (you need to book a slot at one of our recycling centres to bring this item)
- soil (you need to book a slot at one of our recycling centres to bring this item)
- textiles
- tyres (charges apply)
- vapes (e-cigarettes/pens)
- wallpaper
- wood
DIY waste
DIY waste can be taken to our recycling centres provided the work was done by you and not someone that you hired.
You need to book a slot before taking DIY waste to any of our Household Recycling Centres. There is a maximum of 4 bookings per household in any four-week period. See further information about DIY waste, including how to book a slot.
Asbestos
Only 3 of our sites are licensed to accept cement bonded asbestos: Blandford, Wareham and Weymouth. See make an asbestos booking for further information.
What cannot be taken to our recycling centres
The following items are not accepted:
agricultural waste: please use an appropriate commercial waste service to dispose of your agricultural waste
ammunition: take this to your nearest police station or registered firearms dealer
barbed wire: take this to a commercial scrap metal recycling site
brewery, diving, welding or medical cylinders
creosote: this item has been banned from sale since 2003. Speak with a hazardous waste company
dead animals: double bag and place in your kerbside rubbish bin
diesel: contact a commercial disposal company or search for car breakers or garages
firearms: take this to your nearest police station or registered firearms dealer
halon fire extinguishers: halon fire extinguishers are now illegal in the UK and need to be disposed of through an authorised company
marine flares: these can no longer be taken to the HM Coastguard, please use a third-party disposal service. Find out more on the GOV.UK website
Nitrous Oxide cannisters: speak with a hazardous waste company
oil tanks: removing an oil tank yourself is not recommended due to safety and regulations that must be met. Always use a qualified engineer who can safely and effectively remove and dispose of your oil tank
petrol: contact a commercial disposal company or search for car breakers or garages
solar roof panels: contact your solar panel installer, as they’re legally required to pick up your panels and send them to be recycled, free of charge
unspent fireworks: our sites are not licensed to accept explosives. Please return to the retailer or contact the manufacturer for disposal details
vehicle parts: these should be taken to a local car scrap yard
Hazardous waste
The following hazardous waste is not accepted:
- chemicals that are unlabelled
- chemicals that are not your everyday household or garden chemicals
- commercial fridge/freezers even if used within a domestic setting
- creosote
- diesel
- domestic heating oil
- domestic oil tanks
- gas boilers
- medication/unused prescriptions
- mercury (except from a domestic thermometer; must be securely contained in a sealed container)
- nitrous oxide cannisters
- petrol
- solar roof panels
Business and commercial waste
Waste that has come from business or commercial activity cannot be taken to our recycling centres. Business waste can be taken to our waste management centres in Swanage, Sherborne, Bridport and Blandford, with restrictions. Contact W&S Waste Management Ltd for further details.