Charges at HWRCs
By reusing, recycling, and disposing of waste responsibly, you’re helping Kent stay clean and green. To make sure everyone can use our recycling centres fairly, there are limits on how much DIY waste you can bring for free.
Limits for DIY waste
Our limit includes:
- 4 visits in 4 weeks with DIY waste
- 1 large item (up to 200cm x 75cm) or 2 standard black bags (50 litres each) per visit.
If you go over this limit, we can charge you.
For larger quantities, you may need to hire a skip company or a company to remove the materials.
Trade or hardcore waste is business waste.
What you can bring for free within the limit
Within the limit, you can get rid of:
- breeze blocks, bricks, solidified cement (not powder), solidified concrete (not powder), drainpipes, flagstones, granite, marble, paving slabs
- ceramic bathroom and kitchen items (baths, bidets, cisterns, shower trays, sinks, toilet pans, wash basins)
- hardcore, rubble, gravel, rocks, sand, stones, soil
- plasterboard. - we count one sheet of plasterboard as one black bag (we don't accept plaster powder)
- tiles (ceramic, clay, slate).
There are no limits or charges for plastic kitchen units, non-ceramic sinks, baths and doors.
Our charges
We charge for tyres and all items in the list above that exceed the limit.
Non-Kent residents need to pay £10 per visit to use one of our 19 HWRCs. This includes residents who live in Medway. Find out more about charges for non-Kent residents.
| Item | Free limit | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre (car and motorbike) | No free limit | £3 per tyre, up to 5 a day |
| DIY waste | 4 visits in 4 weeks, 1 large item or 2 bags per visit | £5 per item, or a standard black bag (over the free limit) |
| Plasterboard | 4 visits in 4 weeks, 1 large item or 2 bags per visit | £7.50 per sheet or a standard black bag (over the free limit) |
We are unable to offer discounts for chargeable materials. Our staff on-site are always here to help; however they have the final say.
How to pay
We take your payment when you visit. You can use a debit or credit card; we are unable to accept cash or cheques.
If you need a VAT receipt, ask one of our friendly team members. If you dispose of chargeable waste without paying, we may take action.
Before you visit us
Don't forget, before you visit us, you will need to book a slot.
Check to see whether we accept your item(s) at your local HWRC.
If you are using a larger vehicle to bring these items, you may need to apply for a vehicle voucher.
Other restrictions and information
Business waste
Our HWRCs are for residents' household waste only.
As long as our staff are happy the waste has come from your home and is not business waste, you can use our HWRCs.
We will direct any tradespeople producing waste as part of their business to one of our waste transfer stations.
Bulky waste
Our HWRCs are not designed to accept large quantities of:
- soil
- rubble
- hardcore
- home renovation associated materials.
For larger quantities, you may need to hire a skip company or a company to remove the materials.
If you don’t ask your local council to collect your bulky waste, you must get rid of it properly. For any waste found fly-tipped by a company you hire, you will face a fine.
Protect yourself from rogue waste collectors and traders by following our simple steps.
Fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is against the law.
You could get an unlimited fine or go to prison for up to 5 years. It is not a way to avoid paying to get rid of waste properly.
There is no clear evidence that charging at our HWRCs leads to more fly-tipping.
Report it to your local council so they can remove it safely.