Gloucestershire residents tackling larger home improvement projects may soon be charged to dispose of excess rubble and plasterboard at Household Recycling Centres, under proposals announced by the county council in July 2026. Under the plans, set out in a new council consultation, most householders would continue to take small quantities of DIY waste for free, but those bringing material above set limits would face a fee.
The proposed thresholds would allow each household to deposit up to two 50-litre rubble bags per visit, or a single item no larger than 2000mm by 750mm by 750mm, with a maximum of four visits every four weeks. Only waste exceeding those amounts would incur a charge. Cllr Ashley Bowkett, cabinet member for nature, climate and waste reduction, said most residents only produce small amounts of DIY waste, and under the proposals that will continue to be free to dispose of.
The council operates five Household Recycling Centres across the county: Pyke Quarry near Stroud, Oak Quarry outside Coleford, Fosse Cross in Cirencester, Wingmoor Farm close to Cheltenham, and Hempsted in Gloucester. All visits must be booked in advance, and vans, pickups, or trailers require a permit, rules already in place to stop businesses using facilities meant for householders. Contractor and commercial waste has been banned from the sites for some time.
The review follows Government legislation introduced in December 2023, which capped the amount of DIY waste householders can leave free of charge and led many councils to re-examine their policies. The consultation signals an intent to align with national rules while protecting local services from growing strain and ensuring sites can continue to serve residents fairly.
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