Southend City Council has issued a firm reminder that its two Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are strictly for city residents – not businesses – following a surge in people being turned away.
The warning comes as both the Stock Road and Leigh Marshes tips reopen after major upgrades, led by the council’s new waste contractor, SUEZ. The changes are aimed at boosting the city’s recycling capacity and improving waste processing for residents. However, the improvements have come with tighter rules and increased scrutiny.
Councillor Lydia Hyde, cabinet member for climate, environment and waste, said: “In recent weeks, our new partner SUEZ has had to turn away vehicles carrying commercial waste and drivers unable to show valid ID or proof of residence in Southend.
“This has contributed to queuing at both sites, as ineligible vehicles have blocked access and caused delays. We welcome residents who can provide the required ID, proof of identity and address, such as a driving licence or council tax bill, so they can efficiently access and use the sites.
“As part of the upgrades, we’re installing new automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, CCTV, and webcams, which will allow residents to check site access via the Council’s website.”
The council clarified that commercial waste is not permitted at either site. Any vehicles suspected of carrying it will be turned away, with repeat misuse logged for possible enforcement action.
Residents using commercial-type vehicles, such as vans, pick-ups or open-backs, are restricted to Sundays between 12pm and 4pm. These vehicles will be checked thoroughly and contents must clearly be from a household, not generated by a business.
Hire vans are allowed at any time, but only if the driver presents the hire agreement along with valid ID and proof of Southend address.
One frustrated local resident, Lesley Ashton, shared her recent experience: “We went to the Southend tip Sunday afternoon and filled out a form for taking a van in, declaring what we had – which was the leftovers of our bathroom refurb, some gardening bits and general rubbish.
“Then we queued for 30 minutes only for the staff at the entrance to have a look in the back of our van and say we can’t come in and we should get a skip instead because you can only have one large item in a van – even though we’ve brought a van in before when we had our kitchen done. I’m fuming to say the least. Don’t be surprised if fly tipping goes up!”
The council’s clampdown is aimed at protecting the capacity of the sites for genuine household use. But as tighter controls take effect, some residents are calling for clearer guidance and fairer checks to avoid discouraging responsible disposal.
The rules for using the Southend and Leigh tips
Who can use the sites:
- Only residents of Southend-on-Sea are permitted to use the Stock Road and Leigh Marshes Household Waste and Recycling Centres.
- Proof of Southend residency is required and acceptable forms of ID include a valid driving licence with a Southend address or a recent council tax bill.
On-site rules and safety measures:
- Vehicle and visitor numbers are limited for safety reasons so you should expect to queue.
- Park only in the marked-out spaces and use designated waiting points within the site.
- Only one person is allowed on the steps or gantry at a time (two people from the same household/vehicle are permitted when disposing of bulky items).
- If the steps or gantry are in use, wait at the marked waiting points.
- Deposit your items quickly and exit the site to help reduce waiting times for others.
What can be disposed of:
- Bulky household items.
- A wide range of recyclable household waste.
- Items that cannot be recycled or composted can be placed in the general waste container. These are crushed and transferred to the SUEZ Mitcham Waste Transfer Station, where they are processed into fuel for Energy from Waste facilities.
- A maximum of one car boot load (up to six builder’s rubble bags) is allowed per visit. If you are generating larger quantities of waste, the council says you should consider alternative disposal methods like hiring a skip.
Monitoring and enforcement:
- Both sites are monitored by CCTV and equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems.
- These systems are used to:
- Track the number of visits by all vehicles.
- Identify and prevent the illegal dumping of commercial waste.
- Support efforts to deter and stop site-related crime.
Items that are not accepted:
- Asbestos: This hazardous material is not accepted at either tip or via kerbside collection. It must be handled by a specialist contractor.
- Gas cylinders and tyres: These are not accepted at either site.