Closure of Dean Pit

The Dean Pit Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) closed permanently on Friday 30 September 2011 at 5pm.

The number of visits to the site has decreased in recent years, along with improved recycling collections from the kerbside. In addition, the site's temporary planning permission expired on 30 September 2011 and it cannot legally operate beyond this date.

Nearest alternative Household Waste Recycling Centres

• Charlbury area
  Dix Pit, off the B4449 at Stanton Harcourt, near Witney OX29 5BB
   
• Chipping Norton/North Oxfordshire
  Alkerton, off the A422 Stratford Road, near Banbury, OX15 6HZ
   
• Cherwell / West Oxfordshire District Council border
  Ardley, off the B430 at Ardley, near Bicester, OX27 7PH

Frequently asked questions

When did the site close?

The Dean Pit HWRC closed permanently at 5pm on 30 September 2011.

Why has Dean Pit closed?

Since the new kerbside recycling and waste collection services started in West Oxfordshire there have been fewer visits to the site. The new kerbside collection service has offered an increase in the number of materials collected at the kerbside including free green waste collections.

Dean Pit has operated on temporary planning permissions for a number of years and this could not be extended indefinitely.

The original planning permission covered the life of the landfill, which was restored over ten years ago. The location of a HWRC at Dean Pit does not fit well with planning policy, which states that facilities should be provided closer to the main centres of population.

What can be collected through the collection service?

West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) offers a comprehensive kerbside collection service for waste and recycling (or for more information call 01993 861025).

Where is my nearest alternative HWRC?

See the list and map at the top of the page for more information.

West Oxfordshire District Council operate a number of recycling bring bank sites, details of locations and what they accept can be found on the West Oxfordshire District Council website.

West Oxfordshire District Council are also currently looking at developing a Household Recycling Centre for residents in the north of the district, for the latest information on the plans visit their website.

What can I do with small items, eg batteries, light bulbs, now?

All larger supermarkets who sell batteries are responsible for providing facilities for these to be recycled. West Oxfordshire District Council also collect these in your recycling boxes. There are collection points for light bulbs at some bring bank sites and at some supermarkets and hardware shops.

Further information on lightbulb recycling

What can I do with large items, eg TVs, mattresses, now?

West Oxfordshire District Council offers chargeable bulky waste collections for items such as large electrical appliances and furniture.

A better option is to try and reuse unwanted items by taking them to a Community Action Group swap shop, offering them on Freecycle or donating them to a charity shop. Some retailers also offer take-back schemes, check when you buy a new appliance whether this is the case.

Furniture in good condition can be taken to Sobell House Warehouse in Witney.

What about the increased carbon emissions from the longer journeys we will have to make to recycle/dispose?

We recognise that some residents will have to travel further to reach a HWRC. However, a wider range of materials are now collected from the kerbside, resulting in fewer trips to a HWRC, saving residents both time, money and carbon emissions.

Other options to reduce emissions include:

• waiting until you have a full car load before visiting the HWRC
• sharing trips with friends or neighbours
• combining a trip to a HWRC with another journey

Try to reduce your waste by:

• buying products with less packaging
• offering unwanted items to friends or on freecycle.org
• using supplier take-back schemes for large items.

Isn't this going to lead to an increase in fly tipping?

Fly tipping is a serious offence that can lead to fines of up to £50,000. We are working closely with enforcement officers at West Oxfordshire District Council through the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership to run anti-fly tipping campaigns and monitor fly tipping to ensure that closing Dean Pit does not lead to this increasing.

CCTV will be in place at Dean Pit and the surrounding area to catch those who illegally deposit their waste when the site closes in September.

How have you advertised the closure?

Communications started on 24 May 2011 and will be as wide reaching as possible, including:

• Royal Mail door drop to 20,000 households
• flyers and posters at the Dean Pit site
• posters at sites such as libraries and council offices
• all parish and district councils in the area have been informed
• this web page providing information on the closure
• parish council magazine adverts

What will happen to the Dean Pit site now, and how much will it cost?

There are two options available for the Dean Pit site:

1. The site is decommissioned in accordance with its current temporary planning permission and restored to agriculture.
2. An alternative use for the land could be considered and proposals will be subject to the usual planning permissions.

Oxfordshire County Council owns the land at Dean Pit, so our Property and Facilities Team will be responsible for putting forward proposals for alternative use or decommissioning the site in accordance with its planning permission.

More information

If you would like further information please contact the Waste Management Group on waste.management@oxfordshire.gov.uk or 08450 50 45 50

For more information on recycling collections in West Oxfordshire please contact the district council on 01993 861025 or visit the West Oxfordshire District Council website.