General waste collection

General waste (or “black bag waste”) includes a wide range of items, however the following waste types cannot be accepted:

• Fridges and freezers
• Waste and Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
• Asbestos
• Tyres
• Batteries
• Fluorescent tubes
• Paints (inc. residue in paint tins)
• Aerosols and gas canisters
• Oil
• Liquids
• Contaminated soil
• Plasterboard
• Segregated food waste
• Upholstered furniture
• Mattresses (extra cost)

Whilst not general waste, we can still handle many of these items, so please contact our Customer Support Team on 0808 145 4533 (08.30 - 17.00 – Monday to Friday) if you wish to have any of these types of waste removed.

Wherever possible we try to make a positive use out of all waste, even that which can’t be recycled. Your general waste is taken to an approved disposal facility that holds appropriate permits and adheres to strict regulations. It’s then moved to either our mechanical biological treatment (MBT) facility in Westbury or to one of two local energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities. At Westbury, waste is dried, shredded and sent for incineration. At the EfW plants, it’s processed and burned at high temperatures. Whichever route your waste takes, all the energy produced from burning is converted into electricity for the National Grid.

On the rare occasions that landfill is the only option, we harvest any gas emissions and turn those into a power source too. Any rainwater that goes through the landfill waste is captured and cleaned before being discharged. And, of course, all our waste processing is subject to comprehensive and regular auditing.

Try wherever possible to segregate your waste into the relevant recycle bins. For items which are unable to be recycled or re-used can be disposed of in general waste,  Businesses may be required to book in advance and pay for any waste that is disposed of at a tip. There will be restrictions on the type of items householders and businesses can dispose of in general waste, including hazardous materials so if you are unsure whether or not the item(s) you are disposing of are appropriate for general waste it is your responsibility  to establish this before disposal. If in doubt ask a waste provider for further help or clarification.

Proper segregation is incredibly important, as general waste should only include waste types that cannot be reused or recycled any other way.

White goods and other electronics (known as Waste and Electrical and Electronic Equipment, or WEEE), such as computers, microwaves, electrical items and cables etc. should not be added to general waste as these can harm the environment if they end up in landfill. 

Businesses should separate these white goods from their general waste and arrange for them to be collected separately. If you have WEEE waste for collection, we can arrange specialist collections.