Disposal
Where to take asbestos near Plymouth
Plymouth, Saltash, Tavistock and Ivybridge are under three councils with three sets of rules. Here is what each one says, side by side.
Which council you live in decides where it goes
Plymouth, Saltash, Tavistock and Ivybridge sit under three different councils, and each has its own rules for householders with a small amount of bonded asbestos (cement sheets, pipes, gutters). The rules below are taken from each council's own website. Prices and limits change, so check the council page before you travel.
The three sets of rules side by side
| Plymouth Plymouth City Council | Saltash Cornwall Council | Tavistock and Ivybridge Devon County Council | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Chelson Meadow only. Not the city's other recycling centres, and not your bin. | Cornwall's recycling centres take DIY waste at all sites except Bodmin, Dudnance Lane, Helston, Tintagel and United Mines. Saltash is not on that excluded list. | Tavistock (Crowndale) is on Devon's list. Ivybridge is not. Others on the list include Kingsbridge (Torr Quarry) and Exeter. |
| Booking | Book at least 2 weeks ahead. The council says it confirms within 2 working days. | Ring the SUEZ helpdesk on 01726 828230 first. The council says they will tell you which sites take it, and some sites need a booked slot. | No online booking mentioned. For large sheets, Devon asks you to ring 0345 155 1010 to check availability. |
| Cost | £12.50 per bag or sheet. Card only, no cash. | Free up to 8 bags or 4 sheets of plasterboard or asbestos a week. Over that, £10.80 per sheet or bag (charges from 1 January 2024). Card only. | £21.30 per sheet or bag, no free allowance. Devon's page shows no date, so check it. |
| Limits | Each item under 25 kg. Heavier goes to a licensed removal firm. | The council's page gives the weekly allowance above and does not list a size limit. | Maximum 10 sheets or bags. Sheets no bigger than 3 m long by 1.5 m wide. |
| Wrapping | Double-wrap in strong bags or plastic sheeting, then seal with gaffer or duct tape. Don't break, drill, scrub or saw it. | Don't break or cut it. Keep it damp. Double wrap or bag it in strong plastic. | Wrap each sheet separately in thick plastic, double wrapped and fully sealed with duct tape. Woven plastic is not acceptable. Or double bag in a small sand or aggregate bag one person can lift. |
Sources: Plymouth City Council: asbestos; Cornwall Council: charges at recycling centres and asbestos page; Devon County Council: asbestos disposal and chargeable waste. Checked 16 October 2026.
If you live in Ivybridge
Devon's list of recycling centres that take bonded asbestos does not include Ivybridge, and the council says it is not accepted at any other centre. The list does include Tavistock (Crowndale) and Kingsbridge (Torr Quarry), so ring Devon on 0345 155 1010 and ask which suits you.
What counts as asbestos at a Devon tip
Devon says that all artificial or man-made slates, cement boards, Artex and vermiculite products are treated as asbestos at its recycling centres, with restrictions or charges applying, and that site staff can treat anything they suspect as asbestos. Devon also says waste created by a tradesperson at your home is not accepted at its recycling centres. That is one reason the whole job is often easier to hand to a licensed contractor.
When the tip is not the answer
- More than the council's limit, or sheets over the size limit
- Material that is damaged, crumbling or in poor condition
- Anything that is not bonded cement, such as insulating board, lagging, or a textured coating you are unsure about
- Waste produced by a builder or tradesperson working on your home
For these, a licensed contractor removes and disposes of it legally. Never put asbestos in a bin or skip, and never leave it somewhere it can be found. See asbestos removal in Plymouth and garage roofs.
Rather not do the tip run yourself?
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