Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs)

The challenges and opportunities of running a successful HWRC

Nationally, HWRC recycling rates have increased significantly in recent years thanks to major efforts by local authorities, contractors and householders, and mirroring trends at the kerbside. At the same time, the overall tonnage of waste handled by HWRCs has significantly reduced.

HWRCs are going through a period of adjustment to new roles and circumstances, with new recycling streams, for example, for wood, carpet, mattresses and electrical equipment, appearing either through market demand or regulation, and new opportunities for resource recovery and re-use.

 

Applying best practice

Effective and efficient management of HWRCs is key to improving performance and the following resources provide advice on planning and infrastructure to assist local authorities taking decisions relating to their HWRC network, including the improvement, expansion and creation of sites, in addition to examples of good practice, an overview of relevant legislation and evidence based approaches to assessing and improving HWRC performance.

Organisations and local authorities yet to realise all the economic and environmental benefits of collections and re-use at HWRCs can use WRAP’s reports, guides, tools and case studies to create further value from their HWRCs scheme.

Key HWRC reports and guidance

  • Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) Guide

    Offers ideas and opportunities for all those involved in the management of household waste and recycling centres.

  • Bring recycling guide

    Designed to help local authorities improve the performance of bring recycling sites and ensure they are a valuable element of the overall recycling service local authorities offer to residents.

  • Commercial & industrial waste drop off guide

  • The relationship between fly-tipping rates and HWRC charging

    This report describes analysis conducted into Local Authorities charging for the acceptance of household waste generated from DIY activities and rates of fly-tipping incidents to establish whether there is an association.