Household waste recycling centres

CCTV trial at Stobhill Recycling Centre

From Friday 29 September, bodyworn CCTV will be used by staff at Stobhill Recycling Centre for a two-week trial of this equipment.

The use of bodyworn CCTV intends to:

  • reduce instances of verbal abuse towards council staff
  • reduce instances of aggressive and abusive behaviour towards council staff 
  • when instances occur to assist in the identification and prosecution of offenders

Its use will be limited to occasions where staff feel threatened by the behaviour of site users. Following the trial, a decision will be made on whether use of the cameras will be made permanent. How personal information is used by Midlothian Council.

We only accept waste from Midlothian households. So we may ask for proof of identity and residence, such as a driving licence, council tax or utility bill.

If you visit the Recycling Centre in a private car, you do not need to make an appointment. 

Visiting the recycling centres

  • Check the layout plan before you visit Stobhill.
  • On arrival, tell the staff what type of waste you have brought. They will direct you to a zone where you can off load your waste.
  • Only one vehicle at time is allowed in each zone, using a one way system.
  • You must stay within your zone. If you need to dispose of waste in another zone, you must drive there.
  • Only enter a disposal zone once the previous vehicle has left the area.
  • Staff cannot help you unload your vehicle. Only bring what you can lift/carry yourself.

Stobhill Recycling Centre

Opening times

Site rules

  • Separate your waste into different materials before coming to the site. This will make it quicker and easier to place in the correct skip.
  • Staff will control access to facilities, and limit the number of vehicles on site.
  • Please be patient and respectful to site staff, and follow all their directions. We will not tolerate abuse of our staff.
  • Remain in your vehicle until you are ready to unload your waste.
  • A maximum of 2 people are allowed out of the vehicle to unload items.
  • You will have to offload your own waste. To keep social distancing, staff cannot help with this.
  • You must not enter a container to retrieve or remove any type of material.
  • You can only dispose of rubble/plasterboard/ceramics at Stobhill Recycling Centre. Only 4 refuse sacks of rubble can be disposed of on a visit
  • Only 1 of each type of large kitchen appliance can be disposed of on a visit.
  • We only accept domestic kitchen appliances, not commercial or trade appliances. More details.
  • Children and animals must stay in vehicles at all times.
  • There is no pedestrian access.

Vans, trailers and large vehicles

If you intend to bring in your waste using a:

  • van (up to 3.5T GVW)
  • trailer
  • other large vehicle (over 2T up to a maximum of 3.5T in GVW)

you need to let us know:

Book a site visit with a van or trailer

Due to the large number of bookings being made, you may not be able to visit on your preferred date.

Trade waste

Local businesses can use Stobhill Recycling Centre to dispose of their waste and recycling. More information.

Accepted waste

  • Garden waste
  • Scrap metal
  • Wood
  • Laminate
  • Electrical items (You can bring one of each type of large domestic kitchen appliance on each visit)
  • Cardboard
  • Cooking oil (Stobhill Recycling Centre only. Can also be recycled at Sainsbury's, Straiton)
  • Engine oil (Stobhill Recycling Centre only. Up to 10L)
  • Car batteries
  • Household batteries
  • Gas cylinders (Stobhill Recycling Centre only)
  • Textiles
  • Mixed food and drink plastic packaging
  • Food and drink cartons
  • Books/CDs/DVDs
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Food and drink cans
  • Paper
  • Non-recyclable household waste
  • Rubble / plasterboard (Stobhill Recycling Centre only) You can only bring up to 4 bags of rubble or plasterboard on each visit. If you have large amounts of rubble, plasterboard or hardcore, you should hire a skip.
  • Garden hand tools
  • Bicycles (Stobhill Recycling Centre only) Bicycles in good condition can be donated for reuse.

Penicuik Recycling Centre

Opening times

Penicuik Recycling Centre is now open. Check the new layout before your visit.

Site rules

  • No vans or trailers. If you need to use a large vehicle or trailer to transport your waste, please visit Stobhill Recycling Centre. Book here.
  • We cannot take the following materials at this site. Take them to Stobhill Recycling Centre.
    • mattresses
    • sofas
    • paint
    • oil
    • gas canisters/ fire extinguishers 
    • rubble/plasterboard/ceramics
    • tyres 

Why can't I bring these materials to Penicuik Recycling Centre?

To reduce the number of times we need to close the site to swap a full container with an empty one, general waste is compacted or squashed on site. Mattresses and sofas will block the compactor. Paint and oil will leak out. Gas canisters pose an explosion risk if compacted. Information on rubble disposal.

What about other large furniture?

  • If it fits in the boot of your car, it will fit in the general waste compactor at Penicuik Recycling Centre.
  • If it is larger and you need to drop the passenger seats to fit it in the car, you must take it to Stobhill Recycling Centre.

Other waste is not compacted:

  • Wooden wardrobes can go in the wood / laminate skip.
  • Metal bedframes can go in the scrap metal skip.

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