New recycling centre booking system now set for early 2026 launch

11 November 2025

Dorset Council’s new booking system for Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) will now launch in early 2026, rather than this year as previously announced.

The system - set to be introduced at Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury, and Sherborne HRCs - is designed to make recycling centres fairer, greener and better value for Dorset residents. By managing demand more effectively, it will also help staff support residents in separating waste, leading to higher reuse and recycling rates.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Cabinet Member for Place Services, said: “We’re taking a little extra time to make sure the system works smoothly for everyone. This is about delivering a better experience for residents and ensuring the service remains fair, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible.”

The booking system will help protect services for the long term and ensure access remains free and straightforward for all Dorset residents. It also helps prevent misuse of local sites by visitors from outside the county or businesses avoiding commercial charges - making sure Dorset taxpayers aren’t footing the bill for waste that isn’t theirs to manage.

Residents will be able to book online or by phone, with same-day booking and multiple visits allowed. Non-Dorset visitors will pay a small fee per visit. All other Dorset Council recycling centres remain open without booking for residents, except when disposing of DIY waste.

Further updates, including the revised launch date and how to book, will be shared in due course.

Categories: Waste

Comments

2 Comments

Richard C 7 days ago

This idea should be scrapped completely. Sherborne works perfectly fine as it is and has done so for years. If 20% of its use is from people in Somerset then show you evidence to Somerset council and charge them 20% of the costs of running the tip. Sounds to me much better than seriously inconveniencing Dorset residents and the excellent Sherborne site staff.

Robert C 5 days ago

Having previously commented, I have only one additional thought: is this a way that the Council can establish a pattern of use at the tip in Sherborne? If bookings were to show little use on certain days and/or at certain times of the day, might then the Council be minded to consider reduced opening hours? They may well say "of course not" . . . but in times to come when seeking to further reduce budgets the idea might be rather appealing.