Introduction
Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) is asking for your views on proposed changes to Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) across Merseyside. These are the sites where residents can recycle or dispose of household waste that cannot be collected through normal kerbside collections.
The consultation is about four possible changes to how Merseyside residents access and use Household Waste Recycling Centres:
- Access only to Merseyside residents
- Fair use limits for number of visits per year
- A booking system for all visits to help manage demand and reduce queues
- Requirement to separate recyclable and non-recyclable waste before it is brought to HWRCs to increase recycling
No decisions have been made. We want to hear whether you support the proposals, how they could work in practice, and whether they could affect you or others differently.
– Have your say by 22nd September 2026 –
Read the proposals below, visit the virtual consultation room and complete the consultation questionnaire.
Your feedback will help us understand what residents, service users and stakeholders think about the proposals before any decisions are made.
About the consultation
The current HWRC service arrangements have been in place since 2009, and the current contract is due to end in 2029. This gives us an opportunity to review how the service works, whether the current rules are still suitable, and how HWRCs can continue to meet future demand while supporting more recycling and reuse.
As part of this review, we are consulting on four proposed policy changes. The consultation is open until 22 September 2026 and will help inform future decisions about HWRC services.
Why are these changes being considered?
HWRCs provide an important service for residents across Merseyside, but several challenges and opportunities have been identified.
These include:
- Increasing population. Forecasts suggest that Merseyside’s population will increase by around 200,000 by 2037 as a result of planned housing growth, increasing demand for HWRC services.
- Static recycling levels. There are opportunities to improve recycling and increase the amount of material reused or recycled.
- Traffic queueing. Traffic and congestion can be a problem in and around some sites during busy periods.
- Improper use of sites. The sites are for household use only but may be being used by businesses and traders.
- Affordability. The service needs to remain affordable and sustainable in the long-term.
This consultation provides an opportunity to gather feedback on the proposed changes before any decisions are made.
The figures below help illustrate the scale of HWRC services across Merseyside and some of the challenges and opportunities being considered as part of this review.
What are we consulting on?
In developing these proposals, we have looked at what other local authorities are doing across the country. Many other local authorities have the same challenges and have successfully adopted a range of approaches to help manage them.
We have looked at what has been tried elsewhere and at the outcomes. As a result, we have developed a set of proposals with a proven record of success around the country. Where these have been adopted, they have reduced queues at HWRCs, cut costs and been popular with residents.
We are seeking feedback on four proposed changes to how residents access and use HWRCs across Merseyside:
1. Allow access only to Merseyside residents
HWRCs are funded by Merseyside residents and are intended for their use.
Currently, anyone can access our sites without providing proof that they live in Merseyside. Under this proposal, residents would be required to provide proof of address when using a site. Further information on how residency could be verified would be developed if this proposal were taken forward.
This approach is already used by many waste authorities across the UK. It could help ensure the service continues to be used primarily by residents who fund it.
We want your views on whether you support this proposal and how it could work in practice, including any impacts it may have.
2. Fair use limits for number of visits per year
Most residents use HWRCs occasionally, when they have larger items or additional waste and recycling that cannot be collected through regular household collections.
There is currently a limit on the number of times vans and large trailers can use HWRCs each year, but no limit on the number of visits made by cars and small trailers.
Analysis of vehicle registration data shows that while most residents use HWRCs occasionally, a small number of vehicles visit sites significantly more frequently, with more than 1,800 vehicles recorded visiting HWRCs over 52 times in a year. This suggests trade waste is potentially being brought to Merseyside’s HWRCs.
Many waste authorities across the country already operate policies which place annual limits on the number of visits residents can make each year.
Under this proposal, limits would be introduced on the number of visits each vehicle could make to HWRCs each year.
We want your views on whether a limit should be introduced and, if so, where it should be set to ensure Merseyside residents can continue to use the sites for household waste without problems.
3. Introduce booking systems for visits to help manage demand and reduce queues
Residents can currently visit an HWRC without making an appointment.
Under this proposal, residents would book a timeslot before visiting a site. Many waste authorities across the country already operate booking systems to help manage peak demand, reduce congestion and improve the experience for residents.
A booking system could help spread visits more evenly throughout the day, reduce queues during busy periods and ease congestion at sites and on surrounding roads.
We want your views on whether a booking system should be introduced and how it could best be implemented, including any impacts it may have.
4. Require recyclable and non-recyclable waste to be separated before it is brought to HWRCs to increase recycling
HWRCs provide separate facilities for a wide range of recyclable materials.
To help increase recycling levels, MRWA is considering no longer accepting recyclable and non-recyclable waste mixed together in bags at HWRCs. Residents would be asked to separate recyclable materials from any non-recyclable waste before using a site, with information and support available to help them do this. This could increase recycling rates and reduce the cost of disposing of waste that could otherwise be recycled.
We want your views on how this proposal could affect residents and how any changes might be implemented, including any impacts it may have.
Have your say
Your feedback will help inform future decisions about HWRC services. Complete the consultation questionnaire by 22 September 2026 to share your views on the proposals.
We particularly want to hear from people who could be affected differently by the proposals, including residents without internet access, disabled people, older residents, carers, and people who rely on someone else to take waste to an HWRC.
To help ensure the consultation is accessible to as many people as possible, information is also available at HWRCs and community locations, including libraries.
If you need this information in another format, or if you need support to take part in the consultation, call 0151 255 1444 or email enquiries@merseysidewda.gov.uk
What Happens Next?
Following the close of the consultation, responses will be independently analysed, and a consultation report will be prepared summarising the feedback received and the key themes raised.
The findings will be considered alongside other evidence and will help inform future recommendations relating to HWRC services.
No decisions have been made on the proposals at this stage. The consultation is an opportunity for residents, service users and stakeholders to provide feedback before any future recommendations are developed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page via the link below if you have any further questions about the proposals.