At a glance
- Booking
- Required at Bodmin, Bude, Launceston, Newquay, Saltash, St Austell and St Erth – same day up to 7 days ahead
- Vans and trailers
- Vans, pick-ups and large trailers need a vehicle permit
- Hire vans
- Not mentioned on the pages Wader read
- Free DIY allowance
- Per week: up to 8 bags of soil/rubble, or up to 8 bags or 4 sheets of plasterboard or asbestos
- Plasterboard
- £6.00 per sheet or bag above the allowance; must be kept separate
- No DIY waste at
- Bodmin, Dudnance Lane, Helston, Tintagel, United Mines
- Payment
- Card only
Not clear from the source
- Hire vans aren't mentioned. If you're hiring a van, ask the council before you go whether you need a permit.
- Charges are listed as applying from 1 January 2024; the charges page was updated in August 2026 but Wader couldn't see a newer price list.
Do you need to book?
At seven of Cornwall's 14 household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs), yes: Bodmin, Bude, Launceston, Newquay, Saltash, St Austell and St Erth. You can book from the same day up to 7 days ahead. The council page lists these as the sites that need a booking.
The council also publishes when sites are quietest – 9am to 10am and 3pm to 4pm – and busiest – 11am to noon and 2pm to 3pm, especially at weekends.
Vans, pick-ups and trailers
If you're bringing a van, pick-up or large trailer, you need a vehicle permit. The pages Wader read don't say anything specific about hire vans – so if you're borrowing or hiring one for a clear-out, check with the council (0300 1234 141) first rather than risk being turned away.
DIY waste: what's free and what's charged
Cornwall gives every household a weekly free allowance for DIY waste:
- up to 8 bags of soil or rubble, or
- up to 8 bags or 4 sheets of plasterboard or asbestos.
Above that, you pay (charges listed as from 1 January 2024):
| Item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Plasterboard (kept separate) | £6.00 per sheet or bag |
| Bonded asbestos (double wrapped) | £10.80 |
| Soil or rubble | £1.90 per sack |
| Sanitary ware (toilets, basins etc.) | £1.90 per item |
| Domestic tyres | No charge (subject to trade checks) |
Payment is by card only.
Not every site takes DIY waste. Bodmin, Dudnance Lane, Helston, Tintagel and United Mines don't, so plan your trip accordingly.
What's free
Garden waste, fridges, TVs and other electricals, wood and bric-a-brac are all free to drop off.
Reuse shops
Ten sites have reuse shops, open daily 9am to 4pm: Truro, St Austell, Falmouth, United Mines, Launceston, St Erth, Helston, Bude, Connon Bridge and Newquay.
Business waste
Some sites accept commercial waste by booking – it's not covered by the household allowances above.