Dorchester, Eco & Environment, Wimborne | Posted on November 12th, 2025 | return to news

Delay for Dorset waste recycling booking system

The booking system will now be introduced in Wimborne, Dorchester, Shaftesbury and Sherborne in 2026, instead of this year.

Residents won’t have to book to use Wimborne’s recycling centre until early 2026, rather than this year as previously announced.

The centre at Brook Road is one of four in Dorset – the other sites being Dorchester, Shaftesbury and Sherborne – scheduled to adopt a booking system, which Dorset Council says will help manage demand more effectively.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet member for Place Services, said: “We’re taking a little extra time to make sure the system works smoothly for everyone. This is about delivering a better experience for residents and ensuring the service remains fair, cost-effective and environmentally responsible.”

The council says the booking system will help protect services for the long term and ensure access remains free and straightforward for all Dorset residents. It will also help prevent misuse of local sites by visitors from outside the county or by businesses avoiding commercial charges – making sure Dorset taxpayers aren’t footing the bill for waste that isn’t theirs to manage.

Residents will be able to book online or by phone, with same-day booking and multiple visits allowed. Non-Dorset visitors will pay a small fee per visit. All other Dorset Council recycling centres remain open without booking for residents, except when disposing of DIY waste.

Further updates, including the revised launch date and how to book, will be shared in due course.