This Privacy Policy explains how wastecollection.org/ handles information when you visit our website, contact us, use our pages or interact with links and advertising. wastecollection.org/ is an independent UK-focused information website. We are not a council, government department or waste collection operator.
Effective date: 28 June 2026
1. Information we may collect
We aim to collect only the information needed to run, protect and improve the website. Depending on how you use the site, we may process:
- Technical information: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referring pages, approximate location, pages visited, time spent and diagnostic logs.
- Contact information: your email address, name if provided, message content and any source links or correction details you send us.
- Cookie and advertising data: identifiers and preferences used by analytics, security tools, advertising systems or consent tools where enabled.
- Comment or form data: if comments or forms are enabled, information submitted through those features.
2. How we use information
We may use information to operate the website, respond to messages, review corrections, protect against spam or abuse, understand which content is useful, improve page quality, maintain security, comply with legal obligations and display advertising where applicable.
3. Legal basis and UK privacy context
Where UK GDPR or similar privacy rules apply, our legal basis may include legitimate interests, consent, contract necessity or legal obligation depending on the activity. For example, website security logs may be processed under legitimate interests, while optional advertising or analytics cookies may depend on consent where legally required.
4. Cookies and similar technologies
Cookies are small files placed on your device. They may help the site function, remember preferences, measure traffic, protect against abuse or support advertising. You can control cookies through your browser settings and, where shown, through the site’s cookie or consent controls.
5. Advertising and Google AdSense
wastecollection.org/ may display advertising, including Google ads, if enabled. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user’s prior visits to this website or other websites. Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on visits to this site and other sites on the internet.
You can learn more about how Google uses information from sites and apps that use its services by visiting Google’s policies: How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services. You may also review ad personalisation controls through Google’s advertising settings.
6. Analytics
We may use analytics tools to understand general usage trends such as popular pages, device types, approximate geography, navigation paths and technical performance. Analytics helps us identify pages that need clearer information, better internal links or updated source guidance. We do not use analytics to identify private household waste issues.
7. External links
Our articles often link to council websites, GOV.UK pages, recycling centre pages, PDF calendars, booking tools, maps, waste contractor pages and other official or relevant sources. When you click an external link, the destination website may collect information under its own privacy policy. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites.
8. Emails and correction messages
If you email us, we may keep your message for as long as needed to review the issue, respond, maintain a correction record or protect the website from abuse. Please avoid sending sensitive personal information. If your waste-service issue requires private household details, use your council’s official service channel.
9. Data sharing
We do not sell personal information. We may share limited information with service providers that help operate the website, such as hosting, security, analytics, email, spam protection, consent management or advertising partners. We may also disclose information if required by law or to protect the website, users or our rights.
10. Data retention
We keep information only as long as reasonably needed for the purpose it was collected. Technical logs may be retained for security and troubleshooting. Contact messages may be retained while a correction or editorial issue remains relevant. Aggregated analytics may be retained for content planning.
11. Your rights
Depending on where you live and the laws that apply, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to certain processing of personal information. You may also have the right to withdraw consent for optional cookies or lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.
12. Children’s privacy
wastecollection.org/ is a general information website for household and public-service topics. It is not designed for children and does not knowingly collect personal information from children.
13. Security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect the website and information submitted to us. No website can guarantee perfect security, so please avoid sending highly sensitive data by email.
14. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when our website, advertising, analytics, legal obligations or data practices change. The effective date above shows when this version was last updated.
15. Contact
For privacy questions, email contact@wastecollection.org.