Septic Tank Emptying
Regular emptying of domestic and commercial septic tanks across Cornwall. Whoever does it must be a registered waste carrier. Most standard tanks take under an hour.
From £150Full tank in Redruth? An independent guide to septic tank emptying in Redruth and across TR15 and TR16: what it involves, what it typically costs, and how to check a firm is a registered waste carrier. We’re not a septic tank company.
Redruth sits at the heart of Cornwall's old mining country, and many properties across TR15 and TR16 are well off the mains drainage network. Septic tanks and cesspits are common in Carharrack, St Day, Lanner, Stithians, Pool, Carn Brea and Four Lanes, as well as on the more remote farmsteads on the moorland fringes.
A good local firm knows the awkward access tracks and old mining ground that come with this part of Cornwall — including the legacy of shafts, adits and shifted ground that can complicate tank access. Describe the access when you book, so the tanker that turns up can actually get in.
Redruth sits in the heart of Cornwall's former mining district, and the ground around Carn Brea, Lanner, St Day and Four Lanes carries the legacy — shafts, adits and made ground that can sit awkwardly under drainage runs. It doesn't usually stop a job, but it does mean tank positions can be unusual and drainage fields sometimes behave unexpectedly.
Much of the off-mains property around Redruth is 19th-century miners' cottages and smallholdings, often with tanks that predate any of the current regulations. Brick-built and stone chambers are not unusual. They can be emptied perfectly well, but they need a gentler approach and a look at the baffles while the lid is off.
Redruth is well served by the A30 and sits close to the Camborne–Pool–Redruth corridor, so operator coverage here is among the better in the county. The tighter terraced streets in the town centre may need a hose run from the nearest accessible point rather than the tanker on your doorstep.
We’re an independent guide, not a septic tank company. These are the honest options; pick whichever suits you.
Anyone who takes septic tank waste away must be a registered waste carrier. Whichever local firm you find, look it up on the Environment Agency’s public register before you book.
Ask for the firm’s waste carrier registration and check it, get a written price that says what’s included (disposal, hose length, access), and ask for a waste transfer note once the job is done.
Leave your details and we’ll try to introduce you to one local septic tank firm covering your postcode. We’re still looking for local firms to work with, so we may not have one for your area yet. We’ll tell you who before sharing anything, and septic tank firms may pay us for introductions.
Whatever’s going on below ground at your Redruth property, here’s what each job involves and what it typically costs.
Regular emptying of domestic and commercial septic tanks across Cornwall. Whoever does it must be a registered waste carrier. Most standard tanks take under an hour.
From £150Full cesspit pump-outs for sealed systems. Cesspits need emptying far more often than septic tanks, so the running cost adds up.
From £120New septic tank or treatment plant installation, fully compliant with the General Binding Rules 2020. Survey, install, commission: what a full job includes.
From £3,000Tank backing up, soakaway saturated, weird smells in the garden? Diagnosis via CCTV, then repair or replace: how to decide.
From £150 (survey)Blocked or slow-running drains cleared fast using high-pressure jetting. From kitchen sinks to main sewer lines.
From £80Camera inspections to diagnose blockages, root ingress, collapsed pipes, and drainage issues before they become expensive problems. A written report should be part of it.
From £150Prices depend on tank size, access, and your exact location. These are guides, not quotes: always get a written price before work starts.
Standard domestic tank (up to 2,700L). Price varies by access and distance.
Sealed cesspit pump-out. Larger cesspits (10,000L+) quoted individually.
High-pressure jetting. Most domestic blockages cleared in under an hour.
Out-of-hours and weekend work, where a firm has capacity. Ask for the price before they set off.
Not in Redruth? Pick your nearest town guide below.
Old system failing, or building off the mains? Our installation guide covers septic tanks and treatment plants — surveys, groundwork, General Binding Rules compliance and typical costs.
Septic tank installation in Cornwall →Peak-season occupancy fills tanks fast — and a backed-up tank mid-stay means refunds. Our holiday-let guide covers scheduling emptying around changeover days and planning for peak season.
Septic tank care for holiday lets →Everything you need to know about septic tank emptying in Redruth and the surrounding area.
Septic tank emptying in Redruth typically costs between £150 and £300, depending on tank size, access, and how far the specialist needs to travel. Cesspits usually cost more due to larger volumes. Emergency or out-of-hours callouts may incur an additional charge — always get a written quote up front.
Most domestic septic tanks in the Redruth area should be emptied every 6 to 12 months. A family of four with a 2,700-litre tank typically needs annual emptying. Smaller tanks, larger households, or heavy holiday-let use can mean more frequent service. Slow drains or odours usually mean it's overdue.
Some local firms can empty a tank the same day when their schedule allows, but it isn’t guaranteed, especially in peak season. Ring two or three firms that work around Redruth and say how urgent it is; calling early in the day helps.
You don't need a permit to have your tank emptied, but the waste must be disposed of by a licensed waste carrier registered with the Environment Agency. You can check any firm on the Environment Agency’s public register of waste carriers. Under the General Binding Rules (2020), your tank must also discharge to a drainage field — not directly to a watercourse.
This guide covers Redruth and the surrounding villages and hamlets across TR15 and TR16, including Carharrack, St Day, Lanner, Stithians, Pool, Carn Brea and Four Lanes. We’re an independent guide, so we don’t send anyone out ourselves; look for a firm that works your patch and check it on the waste carrier register, or ask us for an introduction.
All waste is transported by licensed tanker to an approved treatment facility or sewage works. Whoever empties your tank must be a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency, and you can ask for a waste transfer note as proof of legal disposal.
It can. Shafts, adits and shifted ground around Carn Brea, Lanner and St Day sometimes complicate tank access and drainage runs, and older properties can have unusual tank placements. A local firm that has worked this ground for years should flag anything odd before it becomes a cost surprise.
Possibly, and it's worth knowing rather than guessing. Tanks that predate the 2020 General Binding Rules often discharge in ways that are no longer permitted, particularly straight to a watercourse. An emptying visit is a good opportunity to have someone look and tell you honestly where you stand.
Usually. They sit close to Redruth, so firms working TR15 and TR16 generally reach them; check when you ring. Access out there is generally straightforward; it's the older terraced streets in Redruth centre that more often need a hose run.