Household waste and recycling centres

Traffic management

For safety, traffic control measures are in place at our centres. Please comply with any signage. Site attendants can guide you to the appropriate area of the centre.

Household waste only

We are unable to accept commercial waste. Drivers of commercial vehicles can bring household waste from their own homes. Verification checks are in place.

ID checks

We might ask you for proof of address on entry. Acceptable forms include a driver's licence or other photographic ID, plus a recent document that shows your address.

Permitted vehicles

All vehicle types up to 7.5 tonnes can use the centres. Vehicles must be able to unload safely and must only carry household waste from the driver's or passenger's own property.

Children and pets

Make sure children under age 12 and pets remain in your vehicle when you visit a centre.

We can accept the types of waste listed below. If you bring waste that is not covered by our site licence, we’ll need to turn you away.

You can make your visit quicker by separating materials in advance.

Waste we can accept

Batteries

Small household batteries only.

Bicycles

All types of bicycles are accepted

Cans and cartons

We can accept food and drink cartons, including Tetra Paks.

Car batteries

Batteries from most vehicles

Cardboard

Make sure you flatten any cardboard boxes and remove all contents.

Carpets

Carpets and rugs

Electrical appliances

You can bring large and small appliances, including:

• kettles
• toasters
• microwaves
• cables
• ovens
• dishwashers
• washing machines

Engine oil

This needs to go to the correct section

Fridges and freezers

We can only take domestic units. These should be empty and clean.

We can accept:

• American-style units
• small, domestic, wine and beer fridges with glass-fronted doors

We cannot accept:

• chest or deep freezers
• gas and ammonia units

Garden waste

We can accept general garden waste like:

• grass cuttings
• small branches
• trimmings

If you bring any soil, stones or rubble, you must put this in the soil and rubble skip rather than the garden waste skip.

Any large branches that are bigger than 1 metre by 1 metre must go in the general waste skip.

Gas cylinders

UK units only.

We accept:

• Callor
• Flowgas
• MacGas
• jGas

You can usually return LPG gas bottles to the supplier.

Glass bottles and jars

All types of glass bottles and jars

Hard Plastics

You can bring different types of hard plastics including,

• children's toys (including items such as slides)
• plant pots
• plastic garden furniture
• pipes
• CD cases
• PVC window frames (no glass)

Lawnmowers and strimmers

Petrol units must not contain any fuel. 

Light bulbs

We can accept different types of bulb, including:

• energy-saving bulbs
• fluorescent tubes

Mattresses

Small and large mattresses

Paint

We can only take household paint that's been hardened.

If you need to harden your paint, you can:

• buy paint hardener from a DIY store
• use sawdust or sand

Paper

Shredded or other paper

Plastic bottles and containers

You can bring different types of plastic container, including:

• high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
• polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Please make sure these are clean.

Scrap metal

Most scrap metals

Soil, rubble, stones and earth

You must put this in the soil and rubble skip, which is a half-height open skip.

If you're not sure where this is, ask our staff for help.

Textiles

We can take clothing and linen that's in good condition.

We cannot take pillows or duvets.

Turf

You must put this in the general waste skip.

TVs and monitors

TV's and pc monitors

Walking aids

You can drop off many different types of walking aid, and NHS Forth Valley will refurbish and reuse these wherever possible.

To find out what you can recycle, visit the NHS Forth Valley site.

Wood, timber and MDF

We can accept items as long as they are made entirely of wood.

General, non-recyclable waste

We can take many other non-recyclable items, including:

• black sacks
• lounge suites

Waste we cannot accept

Asbestos

We cannot accept any material that could contain asbestos. This includes:

• corrugated roofing
• concrete-based panels

Liquids and chemicals

Apart from engine oil and hardened household paint, we cannot accept any:

• liquids
• chemicals
• fuels
• solvents

Vehicle tyres

We do not accept tyres from vehicles

Transition Stirling is a Stirling-based environmental charity that finds a new home for quality items that can be re-used. They have two containers at Lower Polmaise household waste recycling centre. Items placed in these containers must be in working order, or be capable of being repaired. We can’t accept:

• broken glass
• soft furnishings that don’t have a fire safety notice
• electrical or other items that can’t be repaired
• items in black bags

Visit the Transition Stirling website

Re-use items you can put in these containers

• IT equipment, printers
• books, DVDs, CDs and records
• stereos, radios, record players and speakers
• CD, DVD and Blu-ray players
• kettles, toasters, food mixers and other small kitchen electricals
• pots and pans, kitchenware
• ornaments and bric-a-brac
• power tools, hand tools and DIY items
• gardening tools and equipment
• craft and sewing items
• furniture items with a fire safety label where applicable
• sewing machines
• lamps
• musical instruments and sports equipment
• pictures, frames and mirrors – but no broken glass
• vintage items
• seasonal decorations, such as Christmas lights
• board games – new and vintage

If you need to dispose of bulky items, we recommend you bring another person with you. Our site assistants are unable to help you carry items from your vehicle. If you’re bringing items in a container, make sure you can handle it on your own, or with help from a passenger. To help us manage visitor numbers we ask that no more than two people are outside of your vehicle at any time.

Our Household Waste and Recycling Centres are licensed for household waste only. We do not accept commercial waste.

We do accept commercial waste customers at our Polmaise Depot weighbridge. This is a chargeable service for registered account holders.

More about commercial waste services.