Warwickshire starts taking trade waste at HWRCs

Warwickshire county council is inviting traders and small businesses to make use of two of its household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) on a pay-as-you-throw basis.

The Princes Drive Household Waste Recycling Centre in Leamington Spa and Hunters Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre in Rugby currently deal with 20,000 and 9,500 tonnes of residential waste per annum respectively. They are among nine HWRCs operated by the council.

Now the council is allowing businesses to use the two facilities for a charge, starting from 2 for 100 kg of separated construction waste. Unsorted general waste will cost traders 16.50 per 100 kg to dispose, while green waste will cost 39.50 per tonne. Both recycling centres are also offering their on-site weighbridges for public weighing for 6 a time.

The council will continue to offer free recycling collections to all Warwickshire residents.

Both facilities currently accept soil, rubble and organic matter as well as paper, glass and electrical goods include fridges and freezers.

Councillor Alan Cockburn, Warwickshire county councils portfolio holder for sustainable communities, said: This is a boon for local businesses looking for an affordable and environmentally-responsible disposal solution on their doorstep. It is ideal for small-scale projects, de-cluttering or a spring clear-out.

Benefits

The head of waste management at the council, Glenn Fleet, spoke to letsrecycle.com and praised the new scheme.

He said: This announcement is great for the small businesses of Warwickshire, and will reap benefits for them across the county its not about making money for the council, its about helping out the traders that make this county what it is, and helping their lives to be as easy as they can with regards to recycling.

Warwickshire county council conducted a review of Household Waste Recycling Centres in Spring 2012 after spedning cuts required it to slash 800,000 from the cost of operating its nine HWRCs and running green waste and recycling kerbside collections. Profits from the new trade service are expected to contribute to these savings.

The county council is now holding a second review into its recycling policies and is considering expanding a similar trade waste service to other recycling centres across the county, including facilities in Nuneaton, Shipston, Kenilworth, Stockton and Wellesbourne.
A new 3.5million household waste recycling centre at Lower House Farm, due for completion in January 2013 as part of a joint venture with Staffordshire county council, will offer a similar service to local traders when it opens for business.

Warwickshire is the latest council to open up its recycling centres to businesses amid budget pressures and demand from SMEs in particular.

Only last month, the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority announced plans to trial a pay-for trade waste disposal service at its Bidston household waste and recycling centre in a bid to increase revenue from its civic amenity sites (see letsrecycle.com story).