Household recycling centres to accept DIY waste for free

Buckinghamshire Council announced changes to household DIY waste disposal from December 31.

In the new year, residents can dispose of small amounts of DIY waste from projects like re-tiling, renovating a bathroom or digging a pond in the garden.

Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member Gareth Williams climate change and environment said: “We know these government changes will be welcomed by residents, but in order for us to manage them effectively, we are reintroducing a DIY e-permit system like we have used previously.

“This may be an extra step for residents, but it allows us to ensure that everything will run smoothly and will deter commercial traders from abusing the new system which is for residents only.”

 “We don’t want people to be held up in queues at the HRCs while the new system is bedding in, so we are looking to give people as much notice as possible of the changes and the need for them to download their e-permit before they visit the HRC from 31 December.

“We will be promoting the new process widely and would suggest people check our website and social media channels for the most up to date information. The whole process is very simple and straightforward and should become second nature to everyone once it has been up and running for a few weeks.”

READ MORE: Bucks Council confirms major changes in Amersham and Chesham

What DIY waste is allowed

The council is reintroducing a digital e-permit for DIY waste disposal.

From December 31, residents wanting to dispose of household DIY waste at a Household Recycling Centre should have an e-permit printed out or on a portable device such as mobile phone or tablet before visiting the site. This only affects residents who wish to bring household DIY waste.

The DIY e-permit allows residents to dispose of one load of DIY waste each week for free.

One load of DIY waste is no more than 100 litres of loose DIY waste, or one large item no bigger than 2m x 0.75m x 0.7m such as one bath tub, one door or one kitchen unit.

This is how much DIY waste is allowed for free per week. (Image: Buckinghamshire Council)

Staff will scan the permit and check the resident’s address, after which the e-permit will expire.

It can be renewed after seven days, to allow residents to dispose of another load of DIY waste for free.

Anyone wishing to dispose of more than one load of DIY waste in a week will be able to do so but will be charged, using the same price list which has been in place for the past four years.

The council changes come after the government decided to change the law to make it easier for people to freely get rid of DIY waste.

Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet voted in favour of the necessary changes to its waste policy to change procedures at the county’s 10 Household Recycling Centres to reflect the new law on December 12.

The changes only apply to DIY waste, meaning residents bringing garden waste, electricals, general and other types of household waste commonly brought to HRCs are not affected.

Commercial traders and landlords have to continue to pay for waste disposal same as before.