Terms and conditions for using our recycling centres

Privacy notice

Before you visit

You need to book to visit any Norfolk Recycling Centre. Visit Recycling centre booking help for more information.

Our recycling centres may not always be open - check the recycling centre closures page for updates on which ones are closed before you visit.

Please wear sensible clothing, gloves and footwear.

Please be prepared to unload materials yourself. If you need help, or have a physical disability or other condition that prevents you from putting your waste into the container on your own, speak to a member of staff on site. They can give advice on how to dispose of the waste and how they are able to assist safely.

We expect to offer a full recycling service at our sites. Materials we can accept may sometimes be restricted due to lack of collections by sub-contractors. Staff may ask you to bring the items back on another day.

Can I bring my trade or business waste?

All traders, businesses, community groups, schools, churches, etc. must pay to dispose of materials. Business waste is only accepted at some recycling centres and not all business or trade waste is accepted.

Trade waste is not accepted at weekends. Visit our business waste page for more details.

Can I still pay for DIY type waste?

We accept cash payments up to £10 at all sites. Card payments are required for all payments over £10. Where possible, please continue to use contactless to make payments.

Supporting an elderly or disabled friend or relative

You should only dispose of your own waste at the recycling centres. However, there may be times where a family member or friend cannot visit in person, e.g. due to ill health or mobility issues. In these circumstances we can make an exception to this rule, providing you contact Norfolk County Council to discuss the situation in advance of visiting and received written permission from us. Failing to make these arrangements may result in your waste being refused.

Please note that this is a discretionary service. This does not apply where you have paid somebody to collect and dispose of your waste.

How do reuse shops operate?

Reuse shops are open for householders to buy unwanted items for bargain prices, or to donate items for reuse.

As some of our shops are quite small, we may restrict customer numbers at any one time. Please check with staff at your local reuse shop.

Reuse shop code of practice:

Bikes, pushchairs and lawnmowers are sold as spares and repairs only
Transactions of £10 or over must be paid by credit/debit card
Your personal data is only used to identify you in case of queries - please keep your receipt. Read the Waste Service privacy notice.
We are unable to store or reserve items
Prices are non-negotiable

All recycling centres sell:

Compost bins
Bags of compost
Garden waste bags
Winter gritting salt

Find out more about Reuse Shops

Additional terms and conditions

Recycling centres are busy places with heavy machinery operating and moving traffic. It is important to follow our staff instructions to ensure your safety and that of other users and staff.

By using our recycling centres, you are agreeing to follow our site safety rules:

Vehicles

Do not let children or pets out of your vehicle.

Do not exceed the 5mph speed limit.

Please park without driving over the pedestrian areas and follow staff guidance at all times.

Save money, protect the environment and consider others. Turn off your vehicle engine when parking at the recycling centre.

Do not park outside of the parking bays or on the kerbs.

Do not park outside the site and walk in with your material. Walking into the site can cause health and safety issues and conflict with other traffic and site users. If you need to visit on foot, you need to book a slot from 18 November 2024.

Smaller recycling centres sometimes need to close during normal opening hours due to service vehicles entering the centre to empty or change the bins. This will normally be for a maximum of 30 minutes. Public vehicles and customers are not allowed on site during these times for safety reasons. Please follow staff instructions at all times.

Staff may ask you where the waste has come from to check it is your own household waste and you may be asked to sign a disclaimer form to confirm it is your household waste.

Bringing items to recycle

Bring your waste in manageable loads that you can easily move to the containers.

Do not dispose of recyclable items in black bags. Separate your waste before you visit the recycling centre.

Do not throw waste into high containers from ground level - use the steps provided.

Do not throw waste across the walkways into the compactors.

Do not attempt to retrieve an item from any container - please ask staff for help.

Do not swap or trade materials on site. We reserve the right to civilly prosecute anybody who trades on our premises. Once waste has been deposited it becomes the property of the contractor and may only be removed by licensed sub-contractors. Only items from Reuse Shops may be purchased from the recycling centres.

Staff

Staff can help you find the right place to put your recyclables - please ask if you are unsure.

If you bring large quantities of waste, staff may ask you where it has come from to ensure it is your own household waste. They may ask you to sign a disclaimer form.

If you are using a trade vehicle, staff have the right to ask you to complete a disclaimer form to ensure you are disposing of your own household waste.

Staff are there to help you, so please treat them with respect. Any form of abuse toward our staff will not be tolerated.

Items not accepted

We do not accept fly-tipped items at our recycling centres.

You can only dispose waste from your own property at our recycling centres. It's illegal to dispose of another person's waste without the correct permit or licence.

If you're disposing waste for a friend/relative and you're not getting paid to do so, contact us beforehand. If you don't, we might refuse permission for you to dispose of the waste.

No dead animals, or pet waste (apart from small amounts of small animal bedding eg. rabbits or guinea pigs, which must be double bagged and labelled).

No hazardous waste accepted (apart from on the annual hazardous waste days). This includes any hazardous liquids such as paint.

No explosives, fuel of any kind, asbestos, clinical waste, industrial waste or hot ashes.

There is a limited free allowance for DIY waste from households. Any waste over this limit can be disposed of for a charge under the Pay As You Throw service.

Security

CCTV, ANPR and body cams are used for monitoring purposes, safety and security. Photography or filming by any means is not permitted on any of our recycling centres.