Household Recycling Centres: Waste Access and Acceptance Policy (WAAP)

1.1 The purpose of this document is to set out Buckinghamshire Council’s (the council) approach to the disposal of waste at its Household Recycling Centres (HRCs). This policy details the following:

• opening days and hours;
• permitted users of the sites;
• access criteria, including permitted vehicles
• waste electronic-permits (e-permits)

1.2 The appendices include further details relating to categories of waste, exemptions, and restrictions and charging schemes.

1.3 The principles of this policy are to:

• Help protect the environment by promoting waste prevention and waste minimisation messages;
• Provide cost effective facilities for disposal of waste that are sustainable (includes consideration of fly-tipping) and maximise the re-use and recycling of waste;
• Provide sustainable waste management solutions in a cost-effective manner for Buckinghamshire Council taxpayers.

1.4 This policy applies to waste disposal activities within the administrative boundary of Buckinghamshire Council (which excludes Milton Keynes).

1.5 This policy is made in accordance with the main legislative frameworks which include the following:

• The Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990
• The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations (CWR) 2012

1.6 In addition, this policy takes account of statutory and non-statutory guidance and best practice including:

• Energy from Waste: A guide to the debate: Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA, 2014)
• Our Waste, Our Resources: A Strategy for England: Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA, 2018)

1.7 Finally, this policy sits alongside other Buckinghamshire policies relating to waste, as follows:

• The Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2016-2036 (adopted July 2019)
• Buckinghamshire Council Fly-tipping Enforcement Policy