Chargeable waste

Charges at household waste recycling centres

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are currently consulting on chargeable waste at HWRCs. Hampshire County Council are not conducting this consultation and are unable to comment on its content.

As a service provider however, Hampshire County Council are currently formulating a response to this consultation which will be published alongside the Governments response later this year.

Charges for soil, rubble, plasterboard and asbestos

Charges for soil, rubble, plasterboard and asbestos have been in place since 1 October 2016 as follows:

• soil and rubble: £3 per part or whole standard rubble bag, and £3 per individual item (for example, sanitary units such as wash basin, pedestal, toilet bowl, and cistern)
• plasterboard: £6 per standard rubble bag or part bag, or £10 per sheet or part sheet, maximum size 3000 x 1200mm
• cement-bonded asbestos: £12 per sheet or part sheet, maximum size 1200 x 600mm

Standard rubble bags are up to a maximum size of 535 x 820mm (when laid flat), filled so that the waste is contained and can be safely lifted.

We can currently accept payment by card only at all HWRCs.

Soil and rubble is accepted at all HWRCs except New Alresford. Plasterboard is accepted at every HWRC.

Soil and rubble includes construction and demolition materials such as stone, rubble, clay, concrete, bricks, blocks, sand, tiles, paving slabs, and ceramic bathroom suites. There will be no charge for crockery or clay/terracotta flower pots.

Cement-bonded asbestos will continue to be accepted at Andover, Basingstoke, Efford, Netley and Portsmouth HWRCs. Other types of asbestos are not accepted.

Visitors wishing to dispose of mixed chargeable waste (e.g. tiles with plasterboard attached) must separate them prior to visiting the HWRC so they can be disposed of separately. The removal of tiles from plasterboard may be made easier if soaked in water.

The decision to introduce these charges was made on 4 November 2014

A decision to increase the price of soil and rubble was approved on 17 September 2019

Why the County Council charges for these materials

Household waste is legally defined as waste arising from a domestic property, that is to say a building used wholly for the purposes of living accommodation. Paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 of the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 specifies that waste from "construction, improvement, repair, alteration or demolition works, including preparatory works" is to be treated as industrial waste. Industrial waste is not household waste and the County Council is not required to accept this material for disposal. In recognition of the fact that residents do create this type of waste, the County Council has decided to continue to offer a service, but to levy a charge to cover the cost of handling and disposal as is permitted under the legislation.

Why am I being charged?

Soil, rubble, plasterboard and cement-bonded asbestos are classified as construction waste, not as household waste, and are expensive for the council to dispose of. Hampshire County Council recognises, however, that many householders carry out small DIY projects and applying a small charge allows HWRCs to continue accepting these discretionary types of waste. Charges are intended to cover the cost of management and disposal only.

Are the charges legal?

Household waste is legally defined as waste arising from a domestic property, that is to say a building used wholly for the purposes of living accommodation. Paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 of the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 specifies that waste from “construction, improvement, repair, alteration or demolition works, including preparatory works” is to be treated as industrial waste.

Industrial waste is not household waste and the County Council is not required to accept this material for disposal. In recognition of the fact that residents do create this type of waste, the County Council has decided to continue to offer a service, but to levy a charge to cover the cost of handling and disposal as is permitted under the legislation.

Will I pay the same at other HWRCs?

Standard charges are in place for the chargeable waste service at all of Hampshire’s HWRCs.

Will I be charged for other materials?

There are no charges for residents bringing in their own household waste, such as green garden waste, recyclable materials or residual waste.

What items will I be charged for?

Soil, rubble, stone work, clay, bricks, concrete blocks, hardcore, slate, paving slabs, sand, plaster, cement and tiles. Ceramic bathroom units are charged on a per item basis for standard size items including sinks, pedestals, toilets, cisterns, shower trays, bidets.

For example if you bring a basin, a pedestal, a toilet bowl and a toilet cistern, then there will be a charge for four individual items. Oversized items such as ceramic double bowl sinks, draining boards and large shower trays may be subject to an additional charge.

Are there any special procedures for depositing asbestos?

Cement-bonded asbestos is accepted at five specially licensed HWRCs.

You must phone the HWRC in advance to pre-book acceptance or you may not be able to deposit your cement bonded asbestos. No other type of asbestos is accepted:

Andover - 01264 353438
Basingstoke - 01256 352984
Efford - 01590 671874
Netley - 02380 403960
Portsmouth - 02392 387015

All whole sheets should be wrapped securely in plastic sheeting and transported whole. Small or broken pieces should be double bagged and securely sealed. Avoid breaking the material where possible.

Trade waste service at most HWRCs

A trade waste service for small businesses has been in place since 1 October 2016.

The majority of HWRC sites now offer the service, with the exception of Efford.

Find out more about the trade waste service materials and charges