Archived Topic
Topic ID 2364
06/08/2007 by Andy B
A limit to recycling
This morning having cut down a 12 ft conifer with my neighbour which was close to both our properties we took it on my trailer to the “Ware Recycling Centre” where we were told that it was too much for them to take. This contradicts what it states on the www.wasteaware.org.uk web site which states: -
All Hertfordshire HWRCs have containers for your green garden waste if home composting is not possible, or if the material is too woody to compost at home. This material is then collected for shredding and composting at a central composting site in the County.
The following waste types are accepted for composting at HWRCs: grass cuttings, hedge clippings, prunings, weeds, leaves, plant material, soil bound roots, tree trunks and branches up to 150mm diameter.
I failed to read on the site that there is a limit to the volume you are able to take. I do understand that there is a limit on DIY waste but was not aware of the recycling composting limitations.
I have contacted Wasteaware and will record their reply on this thread.
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 25748
06/08/2007 by Alec
That's bizarre - I've taken far more than that before. Did you take it as a whole tree, though? I've always ended up chopping up my branch lopping/tree felling produce into managable stuff to fit in my hatchback, but have never had any grief, even when taking a few car loads after productive days at home.
Reply ID 25749
06/08/2007 by Rupert_S
They are much less strict at the A414 one near Welwyn Garden City. I have put a couple of sofas in the waste crushers there before and they helped me carry them up the stairs!
They have a big compacting machine for green waste too.
Reply ID 25751
06/08/2007 by Andy B
quote:
Originally posted by Alec
That's bizarre - I've taken far more than that before. Did you take it as a whole tree, though? I've always ended up chopping up my branch lopping/tree felling produce into managable stuff to fit in my hatchback, but have never had any grief, even when taking a few car loads after productive days at home.
It was a conifer with 6 or 8 parts to it so the branches were roped down on the trailer but is this not the whole point of the recycling to stop burning and fly tipping do we not pay taxes for this facility? Reply ID 25752
06/08/2007 by Andy B
I have had a reply already, most efficient!
I'm told there are no restrictions using trailers as long as its not commercial waste.
Although before you demolish the kitchen, replace the garden fence and fit new doors there are restrictions for them.
8 doors only but must be 4 at a time not all 8 in one go.
4 small and 2 large kitchen cupboards only.
3 fence panels and 6 posts.
The list goes on further and I'm sure if your up at the tip they will only be too pleased to give you one.
Reply ID 25753
06/08/2007 by Dusty
quote:
Originally posted by Andy B
I have had a reply already, most efficient!
I'm told there are no restrictions using trailers as long as its not commercial waste.
Although before you demolish the kitchen, replace the garden fence and fit new doors there are restrictions for them.
8 doors only but must be 4 at a time not all 8 in one go.
4 small and 2 large kitchen cupboards only.
3 fence panels and 6 posts.
The list goes on further and I'm sure if your up at the tip they will only be too pleased to give you one.
Andy, any chance of putting the list on here so that we can see if we are going to be turned away before we go all the way up there.
Reply ID 25759
06/08/2007 by Andy B
Acceptable wastes at household recycling centres.
We will accept for disposal all types of waste from residents homes and gardens except hazardous wastes, waste from works of construction, demolition or excavation and waste delivered in a vehicle which would present a health and safety risk to the centre staff and other site users.
Waste from works of construction, demolition or excavation, even from household DIY activities, is not waste for which the County Council is obliged to proved free of charge.
A "rule of thumb" in deciding what constitutes construction, demolition or excavation waste is that it is material or items which you would not normally take with you if you moved house.
We recognise, however, the disposal of small quantities of construction, demolition or excavation wastes can present a problem and will therefore accept small quantities at the household recycling centres.
We define small as the quantity which will fit in the boot of a "normal" saloon car although, of course, the material does not have to be made to fit into the a boot and we will only accept one such bootful per month.
For specific individual materials the following maximum limits will apply but please note that mixtures of materials will reduce the individual material quantity correspondingly e.g we will accept 2 full dustbin bags of soil but only 4 doors on one visit.
Each of the following is considered to comprise a bootful:
4 full dustbin bags, or equivilant, of soil, rubble, bricks, plaster.
8 doors.
1 bathroom suit (1 bath, 1 sink, 1 toilet and 1 cistern)
4 small kitchen cupboards.
2 large kitchen cupboards.
1 small shed.
1 small greenhouse.
3 fence panels (6' x 6') and 4 posts.
To avoid disappointment and being refused access to the disposal facilities please do not attempt to dispose of construction, demolition or excavation waste in excess of these limits.
Quantities larger than those that will be accepted at the household recycling centres must be delt with privately by any of the following methods (please note that it is likely there will be a charge for this service):
The hire of a skip or a "skip bag".
The employment of a registered private waste disposal site or recycling company to collect your waste.
Delivering your waste to a licenced private disposal or recycling company.
Yellow pages is a good source of information for local companies and sites offering these services.
If you are in any doubt about the waste services provided by Hertfordshire County Council please contact us on 08457 425000 or visit our web site at
http://www.wasteaware.org.uk Reply ID 25761
07/08/2007 by Dusty
Thanks for that, Andy. I am amazed what will fit into the boot of the councils hypothetical car, I would be interested to know what model they used to carry a small greenhouse.
Reply ID 25762
07/08/2007 by Andy B
I think the small print has to be taken note of especially the 5th paragraph which states "one such bootful per month"
Reply ID 25763
07/08/2007 by Aardvaark
I think it also depends on who is working there on a particular day. A friend of ours tooks several bags of rubbish to the Ware Tip in their people carrier (they have one of these as they have 4 children and often in-laws to transport at the same time). The guy in charge wouldn't let him in as he said it looked like a "commercial vehicle" and the Tip is only open for domestic use. Another friend took some old kitchen cupboards up after refitting their kitchen and was told only one at a time - bring another tomorrow and then one the day after etc. I think we can all accept there have to be some limitations but if the rules are subject to personal whim, this won't encourage anyone to use the Council Tips and only encourage fly tipping.
Reply ID 25764
07/08/2007 by Rupert_S
I think that the whole thing is getting a bit silly with waste. I agree that we should be encouraged to recycle, but it seems that the honest people who try to do the right thing get penalised. I think that it's all down to contractors trying to make money off of what must be a fixed contract that is not related to volumes of waste. If the council and the government want people to do the right thing with their waste, then they should make it as easy as possible, in order to encourage them to do so.
In France residents have plastic ID cards to allow them into the sites so one council tip doesn't get a different councils resident's waste! It also enables them to be monitored so that commercial waste isn't dumped. Therefore you can take a 12 foot tree or 5 car loads one day if thats all you are doing for a few months - much more sensible! What does our council expect us to do? Replace 2 kitchen cupboads a week!?! What happened to good old fashioned discretion?!
It's got to be down to the terms of the contract with the site operator rather than sensible policy. All I would do is take my second load in my wifes car and then go to a different dump at Welwyn. Well done council, ive just burned another gallon or two of fuel disposing my waste and harming the environment even more!
Reply ID 25765
07/08/2007 by cwhit
when i lived in the Cheshunt area i always used the tip at Brookfield Farm and never saw anyone turned away, even full small transit vans were accepted. all without charge. when i was preparing to move, i used the site all day long at the weekends carting garden and household rubbish there.
Reply ID 25829
11/08/2007 by FurtiveBertie
AndyB,
Have you got rid of it yet?
If any of it is suitable for me to burn on my fire, and I will come and take it off your hands.
FB
(Been on holiday)
Reply ID 25830
11/08/2007 by Pat-H
quote:
Originally posted by Andy B
I think the small print has to be taken note of especially the 5th paragraph which states "one such bootful per month"
Glad we have a People carrier that with the seats out has an almost endless boot!
I've found the dump in Hodesdon to be more accepting than the Ware one as well.
(Been on Holiday so catching up on posts!)
Reply ID 25832
12/08/2007 by Andy B
quote:
Originally posted by FurtiveBertie
AndyB,
Have you got rid of it yet?
If any of it is suitable for me to burn on my fire, and I will come and take it off your hands.
FB
(Been on holiday)
All gone now but thanks for the offer.
14 replies