In this section you can find information on how to deal with soil, tyres, vehicles and wood.
Essex County Council recycling centres will accept up to three wheelbarrow loads of soil (one car boot load, with the seats up - combined total of soil and hardcore) per household in any 28-day period.
The soil should be placed in the soil recycling container.
Soil is classed as construction waste. It is not household waste. Essex County Council does not have to accept this type of waste at its recycling centres but does so as a service to residents.
A more convenient way to dispose of soil, hardcore and other large quantities of DIY waste is to use a local skip hire service or a 'bulk bag' company.
Trade and commercial soil waste will not be accepted at recycling centres. You will need to make your own arrangements for disposal.
Unwanted tyres must not be placed in your household rubbish.
Garages or tyre companies usually take old vehicle tyres for recycling or safe disposal when they change the tyres on your vehicle.
If you need to dispose of a tyre or tyres from your house/garage, a maximum of four tyres per household can be taken to a recycling centre. Tyres taken for recycling should have the metal rim removed.
The metal rim, once it has been separated from the tyre, can be deposited in the metal container.
Abandoning vehicles on or beside a road or on public or private land is illegal. Dumped vehicles represent a serious danger to those living nearby, become a focus for criminal activity and pollute the environment.
If you are a witness to a vehicle being abandoned please report the incident to your local
District or borough council or
the police. Contact telephone numbers can be found in your local telephone directory.
Thorough investigations are carried out to identify those responsible for dumping vehicles. This results in the guilty party having to pay for the collection and disposal of the vehicle and a possible criminal prosecution. Dealing with abandoned vehicles costs the taxpayer thousands of pounds each year.
Vehicles should be disposed of by taking them to a scrap metal dealer or vehicle dismantler. Vehicles that are disposed of responsibly can have the parts removed for reuse or recycling and have oils and other items removed to reduce the risk of pollution.
Car owners are entitled to free take-back of their old vehicles under the End of life vehicles directive. Car manufacturers have established national networks of existing facilities (called Authorised treatment facilities) that will accept their own brands when those vehicles reach the end of their lives. Contact a local garage for details.
A Certificate of destruction will be issued to owners when the Authorised treatment facilities receive a vehicle for treatment. This certificate will show that the vehicle will be treated appropriately and will enable de-registration of the vehicle from the DVLA database
Mixed wood and timber can be taken to
Essex County Council recycling centres. However, facilities vary from centre to centre, so seek advice from site staff on the types of wood that can be recycled.
Please note that MDF cannot be recycled.
Doors, window frames, pallets and other wooden items can be recycled.
Wood ash from wood-burning fires contains valuable minerals (potash) and is excellent for placing around the garden as a soil improver or added to a compost bin or heap in small quantities.