Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) Hartlepool - Terms & Conditions
We are committed to maintaining the necessary operating standards at our HWRC and endeavour to ensure it remains safe for visitors and staff to use and work in.
These terms and conditions relay what the site operator Hartlepool Borough Council expects from visitors to the site. In undertaking to use the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) site visitors are agreeing to adhere to these terms and conditions of use.
Purpose of the site
Hartlepool Borough Council operates a household kerbside collection service for its residents that provides regular collections for recyclable materials and residual household waste. The most cost effective and environmentally supportive way of managing the day-to-day waste produced by residents is whenever possible for them to use these kerbside collections properly.
The main purpose of the HWRC is to provide a complementary service to these regular kerbside collections for materials that cannot be appropriately and correctly disposed of within the kerbside collections. At the HWRC the operator is trying to divert waste from landfill or incineration by increasing the amount re-used, recycled, composted or recovered. For this reason we will ask you to separate your waste into the appropriate containers so that we can re-use, recycle or compost as much as we can.
No Trade Waste Allowed
The HWRC is for domestic waste only. Domestic waste can be defined as waste that originates from the household and has no connection to any business. Trade waste must not be brought on to the site, and this includes waste that has originated from houses that are leased where it is the landlord or an appointed third party who is attempting to dispose of the waste. If there are reasonable grounds to believe a person is operating in a business capacity then that person may be refused entry to the HWRC.
Access Restrictions
In order to minimise the amount of trade waste entering the site, sign written vans are not permitted. Other vans, minibuses, trailers, cars with sign writing must obtain a permit by enquiring at the site, or by calling 01429 401987. Vehicles over 2m in height are not permitted on-site.
Trailers
Trailers should not be longer than 2.4 metres long and must have a legal registration plate. Trailers will require a valid permit. For further please contact 01429 401987.
Pedestrian Access
Walk-in pedestrian access to the HWRC is not allowed due to the large volume of vehicles entering and leaving the site throughout the day.
Opening Hours
The site is open from Wednesday to Sunday each week, with the following core operating hours:
- Summer hours: 1st April – 31st October 9am – 6pm
- Winter hours: 1st November – 31st March – 9am – 4pm
- Please check our website for details of holiday opening times.
Fair Usage Limits
To ensure that the site is available for use by all residents, the Council may approach any visitor who it is believed is using the site excessively. Excessive use is often due to commercial activity, and commercial waste is not permitted at the site.
Conduct whilst at the site
Security cameras are in operation on the site to ensure the safety of staff and visitors. Staff also have body cameras with sound recording available for their use whilst on duty at the site.
Violence and aggression will not be tolerated from any person visiting the site. Any person who expresses violent or abusive behaviour towards any member of staff or any other site user(s) will be asked to leave the site, and, if deemed necessary, the Police will be informed. Details of any person who is violent, aggressive or abusive whilst on site may be recorded on the Council’s Employee Protection Register (EPR), which records details of individuals who pose a threat to staff and other service users.
Any person who is deemed to pose a significant risk to safety at the site may be issued with a written warning, and further sanctions could be imposed including having their access rights to the site suspended or withdrawn.
Arriving at the site
Check-in
Upon entering the site follow the road in a clock-wise direction. Stop at the site office and wait to be checked in and given further instructions. Staff will be with you as quickly as they can, but this can take a little time during busier periods. Please be respectful of staff and follow all instructions given. Failure to follow instructions from site staff may result in visitors being asked to leave the site.
Waste Types
Staff will make a visual check of the waste in your vehicle to ensure that you are directed to the correct area for disposal of your waste. Please do not be offended if staff ask further questions or ask to view the waste that you are bringing on to the site. Most waste types can be disposed of free of charge, but some waste types must be paid for. This can be done when arriving at the site. We do not accept cash, so please bring a debit or credit card with you.
Unloading Waste
Follow instructions from site staff, and dispose of your waste in the correct skips. Misuse of skips (i.e. the wrong waste type in the skip) will result in staff having to remove the waste, which can have an impact on waiting times for you and other site users. Due to the risk of damage to personal property staff will be unable to offer assistance with removing waste from vehicles, so please ensure that you will be able to manage this yourself.
Children and Animals
Children and animals must remain inside of your vehicle at all times whilst on site.
Leaving the site
Please continue to travel around the site in a clock-wise direction, and leave by the exit, which is located directly next to the entrance. If you need to continue back around the site to access another skip, please be sure to give way to vehicles entering the site.
Site Closures
If deemed necessary by HWRC personnel, a decision may be taken to close the site with short, or no notice. This may be due to, but not limited to, for example issues with weather conditions that make it unsafe to remain open, staff shortages and incidents or accidents. This will usually result in the site being busier than usual when it reopens.
