Starting from 31 December 2023, you can get rid of some of your DIY waste free of charge due to changes in government regulations.
Kent County Council introduced charges for non-household waste in 2019.
But in June this year Environment Minister Rebecca Pow announced she was scrapping the charge for ‘DIY’ waste at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).
Shadow Cabinet member for Environment and Transport Cllr Barry Lewis said: “I was opposed to the introduction of these charges in 2019 because it was in reality a stealth tax which in turn led to more fly-tipping.”
Until 31 December, charges are still in place for:
- Ceramic bathroom and kitchen items – £5 per bag or item (bag up to the size of a standard black sack) limited to 5 bags (or equivalent) per day.
- Plasterboard – £7.50 per bag or sheet.
- Soil, sand and rubble – £5 per bag or item (bag up to the size of a standard black sack) limited to 5 bags (or equivalent) per day.
- Tyres – £3 per tyre, limited to 5 tyres a day.
Starting from December 31 the fees are abolished but there are limits on the frequency of tip visits and the amount people can get rid of.
The limit includes:
- no more than 4 visits over a 4-week period with DIY waste
- 1 large item up to 200cm x 75cm in size (vehicle restrictions still apply) or
- 2 x 50-litre bags (standard black bag).
Trade or hardcore waste is business waste.
Within the limit you can bring:
- breeze blocks, bricks, cement, concrete, drainpipes, flagstones, granite, marble, paving slabs
- ceramic bathroom and kitchen items (baths, bidets, cisterns, shower trays, sinks, toilet pans, wash basins)
- hardcore, rubble, gravel, rocks, sand, stones, soil
- We count one sheet of plasterboard as one black bag
- plastic kitchen units, non-ceramic sinks and baths and doors
- tiles (ceramic, clay, slate).
Charges and limits apply for anything that exceeds the set limit and for tyres there is no free disposal.
Prices will vary depending on your DIY items and whether you exceed the limits.
- £3 per tyre (car and motorbike tyres), limited to 5 tyres per day.
- £5 per item or bag for DIY waste over our limits.
- £7.50 per sheet or standard black bag for plasterboard over our limits.
