Commercial waste disposal and charges

A charge will be made for some types of commercial waste. However, other types of commercial wastes will be accepted free of charge to encourage reuse and recycling. Please see the frequently asked question about disposal costs below for more information.

You can read the user guidance for what you need to know when disposing commercial waste at one of our household waste recycling centres, including the types of vehicles we allow on to sites and waste types we do not accept.

Commercial waste customers are required to present their waste carrier's licence to site staff before disposing of waste.

You have a legal responsibility to ensure you produce, store, transport and dispose of your commercial waste without harming the environment. Find further information about commercial waste on GOV.UK.

Waste treated as commercial waste

Commercial waste is waste produced from:

a commercial organisation
a business or trade
a person's employment
a village hall
an educational establishment (an exception may be made for recyclable material where no alternative disposal is available)
non-residential caravans
a landlord

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to dispose of commercial waste?

A charge will be made for some types of commercial waste. However, to encourage reuse and recycling, the following types of commercial waste will be accepted free of charge in any volume:

scrap metal
clothing
mixed cans and plastics
hard plastics

We do not apply VAT to non-household and commercial waste disposal charges. All payments must be made via debit or credit card. No cash or cheques will be accepted on site.

Charges for hardcore, rubble and plasterboard

The charges for disposal of hardcore, rubble and plasterboard wastes are per standard hardcore and rubble bag. A sample of the standard hardcore and rubble bag is available at the sites.

Volume	Hardcore/rubble	Plasterboard
Standard hardcore and rubble bag	£3.60	£3.50

Charges for tyres - waste charged at 0 percent VAT

Band	Description	Price (each)
A	Standard tyre (car/motorcycle/4x4) (off rim)	£3.30
B	Standard tyre (car/motorcycle/4x4) (on rim)	£3.30
C	Truck (off rim)	£12.60
D	Truck (on rim)	£15.40
E	Agricultural (off rim)	£20.90
F	Agricultural (on rim)	£27.90
G	Solid	£15.40

Charges for active, green and wood waste

The charges for disposal of active, green and wood wastes are per standard bag. A sample of the standard bag is available at the sites.

Volume	Active waste	Green waste	Wood waste
Standard waste bags	£4.90	£2.70	£1.80
Up to 0.5 standard transit sized van load	£62.70	£45.40	£55.80
0.5 to 1 standard transit sized van load	£125.50	£90.60	£111.50
1 to 1.5 standard transit sized van loads	£188.20	£136.20	£167.50
1.5 to 2 standard transit sized van loads	£251.00	£181.40	£223.20

Charges for cardboard, glass and paper

Volume	Cardboard waste	Glass waste	Paper waste
Standard waste bags	£0.70	£1.40	£1.70
Up to 0.5 standard transit sized van load	£13.70	£43.70	£53.60
0.5 to 1 standard transit sized van load	£27.40	£87.20	£107.30
1 to 1.5 standard transit sized van loads	£41.30	£130.90	£160.90
1.5 to 2 standard transit sized van loads	£55.00	£174.40	£214.60

Charges for cooking oil

Volume	Charge
Up to 5 litres	£0.70
Up to 25 litres	£3.50

Charges for returnable LPG bottles

Size	Charge
Less than 15kg	£0.70
15kg and above	£3.50

How are charges determined?

When you arrive on site, you will need to speak with a staff member to agree the volume and type of waste you have. This determines how much you have to pay before completing a controlled waste transfer note.

If you empty your vehicle without reporting to site staff, or do not complete a transfer note, it will be assumed your vehicle was full and you will be charged the maximum waste disposal rate for your vehicle.

All payments must be made via debit or credit card. No cash or cheques will be accepted on site.

Are there any restrictions on what I can bring?

We do not accept the following commercial waste:

animal carcasses or excrement
any waste classified as hazardous (under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005), including any waste electronic or electrical equipment that is hazardous
asbestos
excessive or large amounts of commercial waste where it detracts from the service provided to household users
scrap vehicles, caravans or boats

Do I need a licence to tip my commercial waste at household waste recycling centres?

Yes, you must be registered as a waste carrier and obtain a waste carrier’s licence to dispose your commercial waste.

Any business transporting waste, whether their own or someone else's, for free or for profit, must register as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency in England. Registration may be free of charge, depending on the activity. Register on GOV.UK.

Businesses are required to show their waste carrier’s licence certificate to site staff before disposing of waste. If you fail to provide the certificate, staff will not allow you to tip your waste.

The Environment Agency requires you to be registered with an upper tier licence if you wish to dispose of any construction or demolition waste.

When can I dispose of commercial waste?

Commercial waste is accepted at all household waste recycling centres (except at the Harrogate centre) during standard opening hours, Monday to Saturday (closed Wednesdays and bank holidays).

Will I pay less if I separate my waste?

A charge is made for some types of commercial waste. However, you may pay less by separating your waste because certain types of commercial wastes are accepted free of charge to encourage reuse and recycling.

Why do I have to pay to dispose commercial waste?

Household waste recycling centres are primarily for residents to dispose of their household waste. However, we accept discretionary wastes including commercial waste at a charge to cover the cost of providing this commercial service.

If you don't want to pay, you will not be able to deposit your waste at the household waste recycling centre and will have to use another disposal option, such as hiring a skip or taking the waste to a private waste management company.

Can I have an account?

Yes, if you are a regular user of the household waste recycling centres. Please contact us for more information and guidance on how to apply. Accounts are only for regular customers and will be cancelled if not used for a period of 3 months. Invoices must be paid promptly – credit will not be given to customers who are consistently late payers or have not paid at all.

How do I dispose of hazardous waste?

Hazardous chemicals from a business or charity are not accepted at household waste recycling centres and must be disposed of through a private licensed contractor. Suitable contractors can be found via the yellow pages.

Who manages flytipping issues?

The council has a responsibility to act on reports of flytipping, to remove the waste and find and prosecute the offenders. If the waste is hazardous, the council is responsible for ensuring public safety until the waste is removed.

Where can I read the customer charter?

You can read our household waste recycling centres customer charter here.

Where can I find out more?

Further details are available in our household waste recycling centre user guidance leaflet.