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:
- Resident permit, for cars and non-commercial vehicles
- Van permit, for vans, pickups and trailers (over 1.5m)
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.
Materials accepted at HWRCs:
- Aerosols
- Books
- Car batteries
- Cardboard
- Carpets
- Electrical appliances (WEEE)
- Engine oil
- Fluorescent tubes
- Fridges and freezers
- Furniture - sofas, chairs and other cushioned seating – must not be mixed with other waste due to legislation on disposal of these items
- Garden chemicals
- Garden waste
- Glass
- Household batteries
- Household or DIY chemicals
- Mattresses
- Nitrous Oxide canisters
- Paint
- Paper
- Plasterboard and Gypsum related products - 2 x 50 litre rubble bags or buckets (per week) maximum – Only accepted at our two main Waste Transfer Stations at Bowling Back Lane and Keighley HWRCs.
- Soil, rubble, hardcore and tiles – see the DIY waste section below for more information.
- Scrap metal
- Shoes
- Textiles
- TVs and monitors
- Tyres (4 maximum)
- Vegetable oil
- Wood
Asbestos can only be accepted at Bowling Back Lane HWRC, Bradford and only if the asbestos acceptance policy has been followed.
DIY waste
Free disposal of DIY waste (such as soil, rubble, hardcore, tiles) will be limited to 1 visit per week per household with either:
- 2 x 50 litre rubble bags or buckets maximum, or
- 1 large item up to a maximum size of 2m by 0.75m (200cm by 75cm)
If you generate more waste than this from DIY work undertaken in your home you need to make other arrangements, such as hiring a skip or using a licenced waste disposal service. Residents may also pay for additional volumes of DIY waste at Bowling Back Lane or Keighley HWRC/Waste Transfer Stations.
Leftover waste or material from tradespeople making improvements to your home (electricians, joiners, builders, gardeners and plumbers) will not be accepted at HWRCs.
Commercial waste and chargeable items
Commercial Waste will only be accepted at our two main Transfer Stations at Bowling Back Lane HWRC and Keighley HWRC, where there are weighbridges in place and payment can be taken.
Commercial waste includes any waste from:
- Leftover waste or material from tradespeople making improvements to your home (electricians, joiners, builders, gardeners and plumbers)
- A resident's own business (of any kind)
- Improving or cleaning up a property that you rent out
- Any other commercial activity
- DIY waste above the specified volume per week.
If you have a business, you have a Duty of Care for waste and must:
- keep waste to a minimum by doing everything you reasonably can to prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste (in that order) - get help to do this
- sort and store waste safely and securely
- complete a waste transfer note for each load of waste that leaves your premises
- check if your waste carrier is registered to dispose of waste
- not allow the waste carrier to dispose of your waste illegally, and report them to Crimestoppers if they do
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 Bowling Back Lane HWRC, Bradford and Royd Ings Avenue HWRC, Keighley.
Commercial waste charges are detailed below, and minimum charges are applicable. There may be additional charges for specialised waste or where additional haulage and handling costs are incurred by the Council.
| Weighbridge prices | 2025-26 minimum charge - 100kg (or 4x 25kg rubble bags) |
|---|---|
| Trade waste | £17 |
| Bulky POPS waste | £30 |
| Clean wood | £10 |
| Green waste | £10 |
| Brick and rubble soil | £10 |
| Plasterboard | £10 |
| Pet waste | £20 |
| Car tyres | £8.00 each |
| Commercial tyres | £10.00 each |
| Domestic fridges | £5.00 each |
| Commercial fridges | £44.00 each |
| Mixed electrical (small) | Free |
| Commercial monitors/TVs | Free |
| Paper and cardboard | Free |
| Mixed glass | Free |
| Metal | Free |
| Public weigh | £10.50 each |
Please note that these prices are subject to review in line with market forces. The costs of processing, haulage and disposal of waste are not within the Council’s control.
Other waste types may be chargeable, please ask for details.
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.