Quick answer
Check the opening times and whether you need to book before you load the car. Household rubbish, garden waste and most recycling are usually free, DIY waste such as rubble and plasterboard is often charged, and vans may need a permit. If you have no van or a big load in Watford, a collection can be simpler.
Waterdale, Garston
Nearest site
Run by Hertfordshire County Council
ePass needed
Booking
No slot to book, apply online
Van ePass needed
Vans and trailers
Limits apply to visits
Charged over allowance
DIY waste
Paid by card on site
Where the Watford tip isSection titled Where%20the%20Watford%20tip%20is
Hertfordshire County Council runs the household waste recycling centres near Watford. Watford Council's recycling centres page lists two: Waterdale and Rickmansworth (Riverside Drive, WD3 1FS). Waterdale is the one most Watford households use, on St Albans Road near Garston, WD25 0PR. The county council's Waterdale page has the details for the site.
Rules and charges change, so check the official pages before you go.
Opening timesSection titled Opening%20times
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Every day of the week | 10am to 5.30pm |
These times come from the county council's Waterdale page, which lists no seasonal variation. Opening hours and closures can change, so recheck the page before you travel.
Do you need to book?Section titled Do%20you%20need%20to%20book%3F
You do not need to book a time slot. The council's ePass page says visits are allowed during opening hours, but you do need an ePass to visit any Hertfordshire recycling centre. Car ePasses are available straight after you apply online, you get an email confirmation, and cameras recognise your registered vehicle so there is nothing to print or show. If you turn up without one, you can apply online and return, or take proof of address so site staff can help you apply on the spot.
Vans, trailers and permitsSection titled Vans%2C%20trailers%20and%20permits
Vans and trailers need an ePass. According to the council's ePass page:
- A household can hold either 3 car ePasses, or 2 car ePasses and 1 van and trailer ePass.
- Van and trailer permits issued before the change were moved to the ePass system automatically.
- For a hire van or trailer, you can apply for up to 4 ePasses in a 12-month period, with up to 3 visits per ePass. You will need your hire agreement, proof of address and the confirmation email at the site, and hire ePasses are valid for 7 days.
The page does not give vehicle size limits or say how pick-ups are treated, so ask WasteAware if you are unsure. Proof of address is also part of the rules: the Waterdale page says you can visit if you pay Council Tax to a Hertfordshire council, and accepts examples such as a driving licence, Council Tax bill, Hertfordshire bus pass or utility bill.
What you can take for freeSection titled What%20you%20can%20take%20for%20free
The Waterdale page lists these among its containers for household waste:
- Garden waste, wood, paper and cardboard
- Mixed recycling, glass bottles and jars, rigid plastics
- Scrap metal and large domestic appliances
- Fridges and freezers, small appliances, household batteries
- Textiles and soft furnishings
- Non-recyclable rubbish and large non-recyclable items
It also lists hardcore, rubble, soil and plasterboard, but DIY waste is only free within a small allowance (see below). Container availability can change.
What the tip charges forSection titled What%20the%20tip%20charges%20for
Hertfordshire allows small amounts of household DIY waste free: per the council's DIY waste page, up to two 50-litre rubble bags or one bulky item per visit, from work you do yourself at home. Above that, you pay by card on site:
Hertfordshire charges for DIY waste over the free allowance
Paid by card at the recycling centre. Source: Hertfordshire County Council DIY waste page.
Rubble, soil, wood, rigid plastic
Per up to 100 litres or per large single item
£10
Plasterboard
Per up to 100 litres or per large single item
£12
Residual non-bulky (e.g. bagged loft insulation)
Per up to 100 litres
£14
Residual bulky (e.g. fibreglass bath, window or door frames)
Per large single item
£14
Charges and accepted materials change. Recheck the operator's official page before you load the car.
What the tip will not takeSection titled What%20the%20tip%20will%20not%20take
- Business waste is not accepted at Waterdale (site page).
- Waste from paid or trade work, including waste a builder or contractor leaves at your home, is refused (DIY waste page).
- DIY waste beyond the stated limits may be turned away. The limit is no more than 4 visits in a 4-week period, and after a large load you cannot bring more for another four weeks.
For refused waste, the council points to the chargeable business drop-off at Ware or Welwyn Garden City, or a licensed waste contractor or skip company. It also advises contacting WasteAware first if you are unsure. The pages I checked do not give a price for tyres, so ask before bringing them.
When it is easier to have it collectedSection titled When%20it%20is%20easier%20to%20have%20it%20collected
A collection tends to be simpler when you have no car or van ePass, a load too big for one trip, heavy furniture or a whole room to clear, or DIY waste above the free allowance that would be charged by the container. Watford Clearance loads from anywhere on the property and takes mixed waste in one visit. Council prices and rules change, so recheck the official pages before you decide.
No van, no booking slot?
We collect mixed household rubbish, furniture and garden waste across Watford, loaded from anywhere on the property, usually the same week.
Tip run or collection?
A few bags or small items and a car
Tip runNo slot to book, but you need an ePass and proof of address.
You need a van or trailer for it
Collection, or a van ePassVan and trailer use needs an ePass and is limited.
Rubble, plasterboard or other DIY waste
Collection for larger amountsFree only within a small allowance, then charged per 100 litres.
Heavy furniture, a full room or no time
Private collectionOne visit covers loading, transport and disposal.
Common questionsSection titled Common%20questions
Can I use the tip if I do not live in Hertfordshire?Section titled Can%20I%20use%20the%20tip%20if%20I%20do%20not%20live%20in%20Hertfordshire%3F
You can visit if you pay Council Tax to a Hertfordshire council, and you need an ePass and proof of address. Under a reciprocal arrangement, Cambridgeshire and Essex residents are eligible for 1 car ePass per household (ePass page). The pages do not set out arrangements for other areas, so ask WasteAware.
Can I take rubble from a DIY job?Section titled Can%20I%20take%20rubble%20from%20a%20DIY%20job%3F
Rubble from small DIY jobs you do yourself is free up to two 50-litre bags or one bulky item per visit, then charged at £10 per up to 100 litres (DIY waste page). Waste from paid work is not accepted. Garden waste has its own container at Waterdale (site page).
Is the tip open on bank holidays?Section titled Is%20the%20tip%20open%20on%20bank%20holidays%3F
Yes, apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, according to the Waterdale page. Recheck it before a holiday visit.
Related servicesSection titled Related%20services
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