Kirkstall Road Household Waste Sorting Site

In order to prevent any one else taking their carefully hoarded rubbish for a free drive round the city i thought i’d pen a few words about the most inexplicable recycling system i’ve ever encountered.
Unlike pretty much any other center in the country you can’t just turn up, do your bit for the planet and go home. If you think its like one of those nice centers where you can even pick up second hand furniture for cheap, ha! Think again.
Anyway, you’ll need the site first as it has their list of restricted items etc which may catch you out:
Their opening hours are fairly standard, (the only rational thing about the place):
Winter (GMT) 28 October 2013 to 30 March 2014 8.00am to 4.00pm
Summer (BST) 31 March 2014 to 27 October 2014 8.00am to 6.00pm
The most important thing is this:
YOU CAN’T JUST TURN UP AND RECYCLE. Oh no, leeds council have conspired to make this altogether hum drum activity much more complicated and unnecessarily bureaucratic.
…Unless you own a small hatchback or other small car. In which case go for it no trouble.
This review is for anyone who owns a van (even just a combi)/4×4/people carrier/​a trailer or any other tool that would help you cart more rubbish in one trip.
If you’ve got a large car or plans to maximise your time with efficient trips you have to apply for a permit first. The process requires you to send ID to the council and so takes an age. (Unlike say fly tipping which takes a but a moment, he says under his breath).
The website is here but fear not, more practical advice to follow.
Two suggestions:
1. Rather than take your friends van, people carrier or other well suited vehicle. Take a fleet of small cars. Leeds Council would sooner you pollute the air but keep the center car park free of unsightly goods vehicles.
2. Park your car outside the center and walk in with the rubbish. This only works if the surly workers within don’t notice you and shout at you to move on. I took this route, not because i’m a thrill seeker and i enjoy being chased around refuse sites, but because rationally i wasn’t going to take the cupboard back without a fight.
Lastly remember that bottle banks and cardboard recycling can be done down the road at Morrisons for free (without abuse or permits). Old furniture that still works can be given to the poverty shop (to help our fellow man/​student). And sternly worded letters can still be sent to the moronic council.
Of course i may just be in a bad mood over renting a van to help clear out rubbish for everyone and spending £30 to drive it about town only to bring it all back to the respective houses.
Rant over. Leeds Council — must try harder.

This recycling facility is great for those bits and pieces that aren’t collected in your green bin (assuming you are fortunate enough to live in an area that provides a recycling collection service!). They are able to recycle a heck of a lot of stuff; in fact it’s probably easier to list what they don’t recycle:
Plastic Types: 3 (V /​PVC)
5 Polypropylene (PP)
6 Polystyrene (PS)
7 (others)
Glass — Window glass, Drinking glasses, etc
Wallpaper
Paint Tins (Empty)
Yoghurt pots
All of which can, however be put in the landfill bin/​skip at the recycling site.
The only thing they don’t recycle OR dispose of is kitchen compost.
For a long list of what they do recycle see this web page (look in the table under HWSS):
The staff are very helpful, especially if you find yourself with an unidentifiable plasticy grey item/​random piece of wire that you couldn’t bring yourself to chuck in the bin!