Bedford Borough Council operates a Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at Barkers Lane, Bedford.
Please read all the information on this page as it explains the waste acceptance policy which is in place at the HWRC. This includes the waste we do or do not accept and the rules for your visit. This policy is in effect to ensure the site operates efficiently and effectively.
If you are a resident bringing your household waste and recycling to the HWRC you do not need to book an appointment.
If you are a business bringing business waste to the HWRC you will need to book an appointment. Please go to our Commercial waste disposal at the HWRC page to find out more and book your appointment.
The site is open from 9am to 5pm seven days a week. The last entry to the site is 4.50pm.
The site is open on all bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Between 1 April and 30 September, the site will be open from 9am to 7pm on Saturday only. The last entry to the site is at 6.50pm.
With limited space for vehicles to wait on site, residents may be turned away if the site is busy. The busiest times are usually Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 9am to 1pm and 3.30pm to 5pm.
You will need a waste permit to deposit waste at the household waste recycling centre if you:
You will receive a permit by email once your application has been processed.
If you have not provided an email address, the permit will be posted to you and may take up to seven days to arrive.
All waste generated from business activity is classed as controlled waste and must be disposed of separately to household waste.
See our business waste and recycling services page for more information.
To ensure the site is only used by Bedford Borough residents, all visitors to the HWRC need to show a current Council Tax bill or driving licence with proof of address to site staff on arrival.
If the photo ID does not show an address, visitors must provide a separate proof of address in the same name.
Site staff are unable to assist with unloading waste from vehicles. If it took two people to load any heavy items into your vehicle, then you should ensure two people visit the site.
If you need help with large items please arrange a household bulky collection instead.
Please sort your waste before visiting the site to ensure the maximum can be recycled and reused. This will also speed up your visit and reduce queues.
The site can accept the following waste types only:
Please note: All waste must be separated before visiting the site. Around half of the waste placed in the general (non-recyclable) containers is recyclable.
By sorting your waste correctly before arrival, you can help reduce disposal costs, protect the environment, and keep the site running efficiently.
If the waste you wish to dispose of is not listed above, please check the DIY waste section below or contact us before visiting. You may be turned away if the waste is not accepted.
DIY waste is waste created from building, renovation, or home improvement work carried out by residents themselves. Examples include rubble, tiles, plasterboard, old bathroom suites, kitchen units, or similar materials.
Waste produced by builders, trades, property management, landlords or contractors is classed as commercial waste and cannot be accepted. Businesses have a legal duty of care to dispose of their own waste using licensed facilities and is illegal to use household waste disposal methods.
See our page on commercial waste disposal services at the HWRC for more information.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, DIY waste is classed as construction and demolition waste.
Local authorities are not obliged to accept this type of waste, and national guidance requires councils to limit quantities to prevent commercial misuse and to keep the service available for residents.
To ensure fair access and compliance, small amounts of DIY waste are accepted within the limits below.
A single item is defined as shown below (for example, one 50-litre bag of rubble or one standard door).
| Waste Type | Item Definition / Limit |
|---|---|
| Rubble / hardcore | 1 bag (up to 50 L) = 1 item |
| Sand | 1 bag (up to 50 L) = 1 item |
| Soil | 1 bag (up to 50 L) = 1 item |
| Tiles | 1 bag (up to 50 L) = 1 item |
| Baths | 1 item each |
| Sinks / wash basins | 1 item each |
| Toilets / cisterns | 1 item each |
| Showers / shower trays | 1 item each |
| Bathroom panels / cladding | Each piece up to 1.5 m = 1 item |
| Cupboards / wardrobes (fitted) | 1 unit = 1 item |
| Kitchen units or worktops | Each section up to 1.5 m = 1 item |
| Chipboard, MDF, OSB, or plasterboard | Each sheet up to 1 × 1.5 m = 1 item |
| Doors (wood or UPVC) | 1 door = 1 item |
| Fence panels / posts | Each panel or post = 1 item |
| Window frames (wood or UPVC) | 1 frame = 1 item |
| Fireplaces / surrounds | 1 surround = 1 item |
| Laminated / wooden flooring | 1 board up to 2 m = 1 item |
| Guttering, pipework or skirting boards | Each length up to 1.5 m = 1 item |
| Roof tiles / roofing felt | 1 bag (up to 50 L) = 1 item |
| Bricks | 3 bricks = 1 item |
| Sheds / large structures | Each section = 1 item |
| Garage doors | 1 item each |
| Radiators / boilers | 1 item each |
The following materials cannot be accepted as DIY waste and must be taken to a licensed facility or managed via commercial routes:
These lists are not exhaustive. If the item or material you wish to dispose of is not listed, please contact the Council before visiting, as it may not be accepted and you could be turned away at the site.
We are unable to accept the following:
Please note, this list is not wholly exhaustive, and some types of specialised/technical/hazardous waste cannot be accepted at the HWRC. If in doubt, please check before your visit otherwise you may be turned away.
The following vehicle types will not have access to this site:
Children, young people under the age of 16 and animals are not permitted to leave the vehicle whilst on site.
Any abuse or violence towards staff will not be tolerated and will result in the offender being banned from site indefinitely. The site is monitored by CCTV for the purposes of crime prevention and public safety. The images are controlled by the site contractor.
Do not visit the site if you, or a member of your household, have symptoms of COVID-19. Bring gloves when you visit site. Put them on when you get out of your car and take them off before you get back in. If they are reusable, bring a plastic bag with you to take them home in. If you use disposable gloves or wipes please put them in the general waste container on site after you have deposited your last item.
If you have a comment or complaint about the site or the service please complete our online customer feedback form.