Oxfordshire County Council proposes charging non-residents £15 per visit at its seven household waste recycling centres and will require proof of local residency. The cabinet is due to consider the plan, which is scheduled to take effect on 14 January 2026. Around 5,900 people responded to the consultation: 40% backed the charge and 56% supported residency checks. A new online booking system will be introduced, with slots bookable up to two weeks in advance.
Oxfordshire to Charge Non-Residents £15 per Visit at Household Waste Sites – Residency Checks and Online Booking Planned
Oxfordshire County Council proposes charging non-residents £15 per visit at its seven household waste recycling centres and will require proof of local residency. The cabinet is due to consider the plan, which is scheduled to take effect on 14 January 2026. Around 5,900 people responded to the consultation: 40% backed the charge and 56% supported residency checks. A new online booking system will be introduced, with slots bookable up to two weeks in advance.
10:15 PM, 11/15/2025Environment
Oxfordshire to introduce charges and residency checks at HWRCs
Oxfordshire County Council plans to charge non-residents £15 each time they use one of the county's seven household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) and will require residents to prove their Oxfordshire address.
The council says it has evidence that people from other counties "routinely" use its sites, while Oxfordshire residents are currently prevented from using neighbouring authorities' tips. To address this perceived imbalance, the council's cabinet is due to approve a policy that would take effect from 14 January 2026.
Key elements of the proposal include:
- Charge: Non-Oxfordshire visitors would pay £15 per visit to an HWRC.
- Residency checks: People using the sites will be asked to prove they live in Oxfordshire.
- New booking system: Visits must be booked online. Bookings will open up to two weeks in advance and may be made until 30 minutes before a slot, subject to availability.
About 5,900 people responded to a council-run consultation. Of those respondents, 40% supported charging non-residents while 34% opposed it. On residency checks, 56% considered them "reasonable" and 31% opposed such checks.
The council says the measures are intended to ensure fair access to HWRCs for county residents and to manage demand at the sites. The proposals will be considered by the council cabinet at its upcoming meeting.
Note: The council will publish the formal decision and any operational details — such as how residency will be verified at booking or on arrival — after the cabinet meeting.