Household Waste Recycling Centre Policy

Bradford District residents can use any of our five Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) to deposit items that do not fit in their domestic general waste and recycling bins.

  • Residents must have a permit to use any of the HWRCs.
  • Residents of other Local Authorities are not permitted to use HWRCs.
  • Business/Trade/Commercial waste of any kind is not permitted at any HWRC. You will need to pay for waste disposal.
  • A home visit may be required to validate the origin of waste if suspected of being from commercial activity.
  • ANPR cameras and CCTV are in use within HWRCs at all times to identify abuse of the HWRC policy.

Permits

All vehicles using HWRCs must display a valid permit upon entry:

Residents are required to bring their own waste. Any other person or company bringing waste on their behalf would need to satisfy Waste Duty of Care requirements, as this is deemed as a commercial waste transfer activity.

Every household was sent a new residents permit with their Council Tax bills in April 2024. If you receive your Council Tax bill via email, you will be sent your permit through the post. It will be sent automatically – you do not need to contact us. Please use the new blue permit instead of the old green one when visiting the HWRC.

Residents who have misplaced their permits must reapply at either Bradford HWRC, or Keighley HWRC. Residents must produce their current council tax bill, along with identification when applying. Identification must show a matching name and address.

Access

Residents who live outside the gates of the HWRC sites or on the same road are allowed to bring in their waste on foot, but they must follow the same route as the cars to dispose of their waste.

Residents may also access the HWRC sites with push bikes but must follow the same route as the cars to dispose of their waste.

Site rules and staff instruction must be followed at all times and residents must clear any waste that is dropped on the floor during their visit.

If any assistance is required, please contact site staff.

Opening times are listed below but are subject to change due to operational circumstances. Sites may close early in order to ensure waste is removed and sites are clear for the following day.

Of the five remaining HWRCs, only two are open are open on a Monday from 8am to 4.45pm: Bowling Back Lane HWRC, Bradford and Royd Ings HWRC, Keighley.

Day Opening times
Monday 8am to 4.45pm (Bowling Back Lane HWRC and Keighley HWRC only)
Tuesday 8am to 4.45pm
Wednesday 8am to 4.45pm
Thursday 8am to 4.45pm
Friday 8am to 4.45pm
Saturday 9am to 3.45pm (Keighley HWRC 8am to 3.45pm)
Sunday 10am to 3.45pm
Bank holidays Closed

Waste acceptance

In reasonable quantities, we will accept any non-commercial waste that a Bradford resident cannot recycle or dispose of through an existing kerbside or bulk collection due to size and material type.

For example:

  • mattresses, bed bases and frames – up to 4 per year
  • sofas, chairs and other cushioned seating – up to 2 per year – must not be mixed with other waste
  • carpets - up to 6 per year
  • televisions - up to 3 per year
  • computers - up to 2 per year
  • small domestic appliances, such as toaster, kettle or microwave - unlimited
  • large domestic appliances, such as fridge or freezer - up to 2 per year
  • fluorescent light tubes - up to 12 per year
  • separated clean soil, hardcore, tiles, bricks and rubble - up to 12 x 25kg bags or two full car loads per year
  • Plasterboard and gypsum related products – 2 x 50 litre rubble bags (Only accepted at our two main Transfer Stations)
  • bathroom suite - 1 per year
  • fitted kitchen - 1 per year
  • wood - must be clean and dry. Bradford Council will not accept wood contaminated with preservative residues, like creosote, tar and non-water based preservatives
  • general waste (domestic household waste) - unlimited
  • cardboard - unlimited
  • glass bottles - unlimited
  • scrap metal – unlimited
  • Car batteries, household and garden chemicals and domestic solvents and paints - these items will all be accepted for free at all HWRCs but site attendants must be made aware of any chemicals and solvents so they can direct members of the public to the correct disposal point and storage container.
  • Household and garden chemicals including domestic solvents and paints – these items will be accepted at all HWRC’s but site attendants must be made aware of any chemicals and solvents for disposal. This allows site staff to direct members of public to the correct disposal point / storage container. A suitable container with correct and legible warning labels should be used – up to 1KG or 5L per year.
  • Nitrous Oxide canisters - we will accept Nitrous Oxide canisters but they must be kept separate to other metal recyclates. A box will be available to put them in.
  • Asbestos - can only be accepted at Bowling Back Lane HWRC, Bradford and only if the Asbestos Acceptance Policy has been followed

Commercial waste and chargeable items

Commercial Waste will only be accepted at our two main Transfer Stations where there are weighbridges in place and payment can be taken.

Commercial waste includes any waste from:

  • Leftover waste/material from tradespeople making improvements to your home (electricians, joiners, builders, gardeners and plumbers)
  • A residents own business (of any kind)
  • Improving or cleaning up a property that you rent out
  • Any other commercial activity

If you have a business, you have a Duty of Care for waste and must:

You have extra responsibilities if you’re dealing with hazardous waste.

For more information, please visit: www.gov.uk/dispose-business-commercial-waste.

There are many private providers and outlets available for collection and disposal of commercial waste

Chargeable items and commercial waste can only be accepted at the household waste recycling centres at Bowling Back Lane, Bradford and Royd Ings Avenue, Keighley.

Commercial waste is chargeable up to £171.50 per tonne. Minimum charges are applicable and there may be additional charges for specialised waste or where additional haulage and handling costs are incurred by the Council.

For example:

  • Windows
  • Trailers (tyre charges additional)
  • Boats or canoes
  • Caravans (tyre charges additional)
  • Telegraph poles or railway sleepers
  • Plasterboard and gypsum related products
  • Clean wood - £75 per tonne with a minimum charge of £37
  • Tyres (domestic) - £6.50 each
  • Tyres (commercial) - £9.50 each
  • Sofas, chairs and other cushioned seating - now deemed as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Waste by the Environment Agency and must not be mixed with other waste. £360 per tonne with a minimum charge of £36.
  • Hardcore, brick and rubble - £42.50 per tonne with a minimum charge of £21.50
  • Green waste - £50 per tonne with a minimum charge of £25

Items not accepted at the household waste sites

Gas bottles

Refillable gas bottles and cylinders should be returned to the place of purchase or contact the supplier for return details. Manufacturer or supplier information can usually be found on the cylinder.

Prescription medications and tablets

Tablets and prescription medication should be returned to your local pharmacy for disposal.

Fire extinguishers

Refillable fire extinguishers should be returned to the place of purchase or contact the supplier for return details.

Industrial chemicals (non-household) and unused fireworks

These should be returned to the supplier or disposed of through a specialist hazardous waste disposal company.

Commercial waste

Commercial waste of any kind is not accepted.

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