Important Update on Devon County Council’s Recycling Centre Trade Garden and Cardboard Waste Recycling Scheme Devon County Council’s Trade Garden and Cardboard Waste Recycling Scheme will end on Wednesday 30th September 2026 at 5pm. Ticket sales have now ceased. Any valid tickets that you may have can be used until Wednesday 30th September 2026 at 5pm. If you have any valid, unused tickets after Wednesday 30th September 2026, you will need to contact tradewastetickets-mailbox@devon.gov.uk to arrange a refund.
This decision has been made due to the introduction of Digital Waste Tracking by the Government/DEFRA from 1st October 2026.
The introduction of Digital Waste Tracking would require the Council to modernise the scheme, by developing a digital (non-paper based) system, to record waste movements.
The Trade Garden and Cardboard Waste Recycling Scheme is a discretionary service and not one that the Council is legally required to provide. The significant costs associated with developing and operating a new digital system would need to be recovered through significant increased ticket charges.
Following a survey sent to service users in May 2026, the results highlighted that customers were not prepared to pay higher ticket prices.
As a result, the Council has taken the decision to withdraw the service.
A number of alternative commercial waste companies are available in the Devon area. Please see the table below for further information.
| District | Company | Location(s) | Waste Streams |
| East Devon | Bottleman Recycling | Hill Barton Industrial Estate | Cardboard |
| Coastal Recycling | Hill Barton Industrial Estate | Garden Waste | |
| EMS Waste Services | Hill Barton Industrial Estate | Garden Waste / Cardboard | |
| Exeter |
Marsh Barton Marsh Barton |
Garden Waste / Cardboard Cardboard |
|
| North Devon |
Barnstaple Barnstaple |
Cardboard Garden Waste / Cardboard |
|
| South Hams | South West Composting | Brixton | Garden Waste / Cardboard |
| Teignbridge | Gilpins | Newton Abbot | Garden Waste / Cardboard |
| Torridge | Coastal Recycling | Great Torrington | Garden Waste / Cardboard |
| South West Metals | Bideford | Garden Waste / Cardboard | |
| West Devon | Sparlings | Tavistock | Garden Waste / Cardboard |
| Other | South West Metals | Plymouth | Garden Waste / Cardboard |