Every once in a while, we all need to visit our local tip. It's the place to go when we want to dump our rubbish that's been building up in our attics and gardens, which can't be disposed of at home. Or we might want to get rid of an old TV or microwave we no longer use. However, before setting off, it's important to know a couple of things so you don't make a wasted trip. This centres around entry. Often, especially in metropolitan boroughs like Birmingham and the four Black Country areas, there are rules on who can use the tip. These tips, known as Household Waste Recycling Centres, are usually only open to residents within that borough or district. READ MORE: I spent two hours at the tip and couldn't believe what people threw away Get
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WhatsApp , click the link to join Some councils require you to book a slot online before visiting. You'll often be asked for a booking confirmation and proof of address when you turn up too, like a driving license. If you aren't able to prove where you live, you'll be turned away. In the case of Merchants Way tip in Aldridge, Walsall , operatives have been forced to turn away people coming from Birmingham and Sandwell when they've experienced problems in their own areas. This has generated complaints, but the rules have needed to be enforced. Walsall doesn't require booking slots for residents, only for people with vans and trailers. Another rule is that traders and businesses cannot dispose of commercial waste at household recycling centres. They must hire commercial waste collectors to take away the rubbish. Councils can offer this service too. Over in Sandwell , the council does operate a booking service at its Shidas Lane site in Oldbury. This was after huge queues were experienced during the
Coronavirus pandemic. Mark Kelly, site manager at Shidas Lane, explained: "Residents need to bring their booking confirmation and proof of residency as well. It could be a driving license or a council tax bill." He added: "We don't accept trade waste. Anybody who looks like they've brought in trade waste will be challenged." Local authorities have at least one tip in their area, known as Household Waste Recycling Centres. Tips are made up of multiple skips, bins and disposal areas for specific types of waste - such as scrap metal, wood and electronics. It allows rubbish to be separated at the recycling centre and makes it easier for it to be disposed of further down the line. The rubbish is taken away to sites. Most of it is recycled, but some waste is sent for energy recover, and a small portion to landfill. A tip that can speed up people's visits to the tip is separating waste beforehand. If people bring in black bin bags containing a variety of waste, some sites will sift through the rubbish and place it in the correct areas. Walsall does this, however Sandwell doesn't, and the picture can vary from tip to tip.