A guide to waste tipping: Everything you need to know

According to DEFRA, UK generated 222.2 million tonnes of waste in 2018, with England accounting for 84% of it. With these staggering figures in mind,  it is safe to say that both businesses and individuals in the UK often need a reliable way to dispose of their waste. That is why waste tipping is a convenient option.

Having said this, navigating the process of waste tipping can be daunting, especially if it’s not something you do frequently. In this blog post, we aim to provide you with a clear guide on how to effectively tip your waste, as well as some key pointers to look out for when selecting the right provider for you.

If you’re based around London and need a cost-effective and responsible way to tip your waste, check out our Bow and Leyton sites for tipping services close to central London. Whether you’re dealing with commercial or household waste, we’ve got you covered!

Before we dive in: Waste tipping fun facts

Going back to the DEFRA report, out of the total waste generated, 19.75% came from commercial and industrial sources (C&I), 62% from construction, demolition, and excavation activities (CD&E), and 12% from households, while the remainder originated from other sources.

Regarding disposal methods, 48.7% of the waste was recycled or recovered, 22.8% was sent to landfill, 11.5% underwent treatment before being released into bodies of water, 7.5% was used for backfilling, 4% was incinerated for energy generation, and an additional 3% was incinerated without energy recovery.

With these figures in mind, it is important to note that all waste types tipped with Bywaters contributes to benefiting the planet in some way. Click here to find out how our solar-powered Lea Riverside facility processes your recyclables sustainably.

The process of tipping your waste

Waste tipping varies slightly between licensed sites, but the general process involves unloading waste from vehicles, recording its contents, and sorting it for proper disposal. This sorting may include separating materials based on their properties and recyclability, with the removal of potential contaminants occurring at this stage.

We operate two facilities in East London, where we have the capacity to sort various types of waste for recycling. Additionally, we collaborate with numerous reputable partners throughout the UK to ensure the sustainable and efficient management of your waste. Our comprehensive approach ensures that no waste is directly sent to landfill.

A few pointers…

Understanding waste tipping can be confusing. Remember, rules and regulations vary by site, so contact the facility directly for clarification. We’ll cover common questions and help you choose the right facility in the following sections.

Can you take garden waste to the tip?

Generally, it may vary by site, garden waste is largely accepted as long as the site accepts it and it is free from contaminants. However, rules and regulations may vary by site. It is best to contact the site to clarify what their requirements may be.

Waste tip opening times

Furthermore, keep in mind that they operate at different times! Generally, they work during core working hours. Before taking your rubbish to the tip, be sure to contact the site in advance. Bywaters’ Gateway Road has some of London’s most flexible working hours, being available from 7 am to 4 pm. Click here to enquire today.

Keep an eye out for regulation and licensing

With all this being said, be careful when selecting a provider! Householders can be fined up to £600 for passing their waste to an unlicensed carrier which is subsequently fly-tipped.

Bywaters is fully compliant with all relevant waste management and sustainability legislation, and we have also attained a variety of accreditations for going above and beyond these requirements. Click here to check out our qualifications.

So how do you tip at our MRF’s?

Contact us to book your tip: Once your waste is ready for disposal, simply give us a call to book your tip. Our team will provide you with all the information you need, including the tipping fees and any other requirements for disposal.

Check the waste types we accept: Bring the correct waste stream to our MRF. We’ve listed out the materials we accept. This includes general waste, mixed recycling, cardboard, wood and more.

Prepare your waste for disposal: Depending on the type of waste you have, this may involve sorting it into different bins or bags, or ensuring that it’s properly secured for transportation.

Bring your waste to our MRF: On the day of your tip, simply bring your waste to our MRF in London. Our team will guide you through the process and ensure that your waste is disposed of safely and efficiently.

Let us do the hard work: We are committed to ensuring that your waste is put to good use and contributes to the improvement of our planet, including those items that are typically difficult to recycle. If you want a full breakdown of what happens to your waste please read our article featured on PSSA.

Lea Riverside

Our flagship Lea Riverside Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) operates 24/7 and is powered by 4,000 solar panels. This state-of-the-art facility utilises cutting-edge technology, including a combination of roll screens, near-infrared optical sorting equipment, magnets, eddy currents, and air tunnels. With the help of our dedicated staff, these machines and technologies efficiently separate and categorise your dry mixed recycling into different streams and sub-streams, ensuring effective waste management and recycling.

Gateway Road

Our specialised facility located at Gateway Road focuses on the recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Whether you’re engaged in a short-term renovation project or involved in constructing a new building, our Gateway Road facility excels in segregating your construction waste into separate streams, all of which are sent for recycling.

Through the utilisation of our construction Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and trommel screens, we efficiently extract materials such as cardboard, wood, bricks, metals, and more from your waste. These individual streams are then baled and forwarded to our trusted reprocessing partners for recycling. Any remaining residue undergoes further sorting to extract fines, such as soil. Finally, this residual material is used to generate electricity for the National Grid at an energy-from-waste facility, ensuring that nothing is sent to landfill.

Waste tipping deals at Gateway Road

Gateway Road also offers a small tipping service for various waste streams, with a low minimum tipping load of only half a tonne (500kg) – Half of the usual 1 tonne requirement elsewhere.

In a nutshell

When it comes to finding a sustainable solution for tipping your waste, Bywaters is your ideal choice. With our capacity to handle diverse waste streams, we are dedicated to repurposing waste in a way that benefits the planet. As evidenced by the waste generation statistics in the UK, proper waste management is crucial. By tipping your waste at Bywaters, you can rest assured that it will be handled responsibly and contribute to environmental preservation.