Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC)
Household Waste Recycling Centres FAQs
Before heading to the recycling centre, it's important to check their opening hours and what materials they accept.
Accepted Waste
You can bring bulky household items like sofas and mattresses, cardboard (flattened), engine oil (at some sites), garden waste, general household waste, glass bottles/jars (at most sites), household batteries, large/small electrical items, light bulbs (at some sites), plasterboard (at some sites, limited to one visit per day), scrap metal (at some sites), soil/rubble (at most sites, limited to one visit per day), textiles (at most sites), and wood (at some sites).
Check what your local site accepts
Permitted Vehicles
Cars, small 4x4 vehicles, vans or trailers under 3.5 tonnes, and adapted vehicles for disabled use are allowed.
Booking Required
If you're bringing waste in a van or trailer, booking a time slot is necessary at certain sites.
Cars do not require bookings.
DIY Waste
Materials from small DIY projects are accepted in cars, while construction waste from builders isn't allowed.
Opening Hours
Check the website for individual site opening hours, as they may close unexpectedly.
Best Time to Visit
Avoid arriving early to reduce traffic impact. Site staff will guide you, but they can't handle your waste.
Assistance and Safety
Site staff can't help unload your waste. Children should stay in the car.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a personal choice. It's advised to wash hands before and after visiting.
Pedestrian Access
Walking waste into the site isn't allowed for safety reasons.
Fly-tipping
Leaving waste outside the site is considered fly-tipping and can result in fines.
Business Waste
The recycling centres do not accept waste from businesses or any other commercial activity, as the sites are for household waste only.
We offer a business waste collection service across the region, contact business.waste@highland.gov.uk for more information.
Businesses can use also Waste Transfer Stations by setting up an account and paying charges based on weight or materials. Contact business.waste@highland.gov.uk for more information.