Dorset councillors have been told that Wiltshire Council is likely to introduce a booking system in response to Dorset’s plans for an experimental booking system at four of its sites – due to be introduced later this year.
Weymouth councillor Louie O’Leary questioned whether the estimated £60,000 a year funding improvement for Dorset Council from the booking system, might be negated by fees at Wiltshire tips, used by Dorset residents.
Porfolio holder for the service, Sherborne councillor Jon Andrews, said he doubted if a Wiltshire fee would make any difference as the model showed more people going out of Dorset to use cross-border household recycling centres, than travel in the opposite direction. Either way those using the tips would end up having to book and, in some cases, to pay, depending on what they were disposing of.
“If Wiltshire want to introduce a booking system that’s up to them, they’ll charge us and we’ll charge them,” said Cllr Andrews.
He told a scrutiny committee that the aim of the booking system was to discourage cross-border travel especially for tips in Shaftesbury and Sherborne but also to crack down on trade and commercial waste uswers where people were claiming to be disposing of domestic, not commercial waste, which they should pay for.
Dorset Council says it will be introducing a booking system at four Household Recycling Centres (HRCs): Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury, and Sherborne in 2026.
The remaining six centres (Bridport, Swanage, Weymouth, Portland, Wareham and Blandford) will continue to operate as usual – without slot bookings – while the council looks to strengthen its measures to prevent commercial misuse.
Said a council news release: “This change is designed to protect services, reduce costs, improve the overall experience, and make funding fairer for residents. With a simple online process, residents will be able to reserve their preferred date and time slot in advance.”
The online booking system will allow visitors to select a 30 minute time slot by providing basic details such as name, address, and vehicle registration with telephone booking available for those without internet access.
Said the council news release: “There are potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds to be saved with future efficiencies, with other councils reporting annual savings of up to £650,000 a year.”
Currently, Dorset Council pays £435,000 to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) so Dorset residents can use their recycling centres. However, BCP residents have been using Dorset Council sites for free. Under the new system, non-Dorset Council residents will still be able to book visits, but they’ll now pay a fee to help cover the cost of their waste disposal, and site maintenance. Dorset Council residents will continue to be able to visit our HRCs with no additional charge, and there are no plans to introduce access fees in the future.