Household Waste Recycling Centre FAQs

We’ve made these changes because vehicles over a certain size have caused significant operational problems, made the facility unsafe for other users, and can potentially carry large volumes of commercial waste.

You will need a permit to access the facility if you are driving:

• a van
• a car towing a trailer or
• any vehicle with commercial branding
• any hire vehicle

Any of these vehicles must be within the permitted size limits.

A van is a commercial-type vehicle defined as a vehicle with one or more of the following features:

• no rear windows
• no rear side windows and/or panels in place of rear side windows
• no rear seats
• an open back, or a back which is separate to the main cab such as a closed cab pick-up

Remember there are also height and weight restrictions.

Normal family cars including hatchbacks, MPVs, 4x4s, and SUVs. Some of these vehicles may with roof bars and roof boxes exceed the height limit. Access to the site will then be at the discretion of site management.

Blue badge holders will not require a permit for their vehicle, but the prohibited vehicle restrictions will still apply. Remember the Blue Badge is personal to the holder and can only be used as long as the holder is present.

No, the permit is FREE of charge, but limited to four per household per year. 

Permits can be used to dispose of household waste. You may be asked for proof of identity, residence in North Tyneside and to confirm that the waste is indeed from a North Tyneside property.

You will need to apply online for your FREE waste permit and you will receive a unique six-digit code that you will be asked for on arrival. 

The scheme will be online with applicants being given a unique code.

• The permit is for residents of North Tyneside only
• Residents must apply online for a permit before visiting the HWRC
• Permits are digital (paperless) and are checked by a site operative when you arrive
• Permits are specific to a single vehicle and address and cannot be transferred
• You may be asked for proof of residence and to confirm that the waste is from a North Tyneside domestic property

DIY waste and home improvement waste from work a householder would normally carry out can be disposed of at the site.

Any work that would require a specialist, such as work to gas systems, would normally be trade waste and therefore not allowed on the site.

The authority will also continue to monitor the material being brought to the site and may introduce limits on this material in the future.

There may be a charge for this material if it falls into any of the categories below.

Waste from landlords, developers or tradespeople is NOT accepted at this site.

This also includes rubbish that results from building, gardening or other work carried out on a domestic property if the person carrying out the work is NOT the homeowner.

Commercial operators found using the site may be prosecuted with the penalty being a fine of up to £50,000 and/or six months in prison.

It is illegal to dispose of commercial or trade (business) waste at the Household Waste Recycling Centre. If your waste is fly-tipped and it is traced back to you as the owner then you can be prosecuted and fined up to £50,000.

Non-household waste will incur charges at the HWRC. This is primarily construction and demolition material, examples of which are given below (other items may also incur a charge, as determined by the site manager).

• Plasterboard
• Paving stones
• Rubble and hardcore (such as stone, brick, concrete, tiles) 
• Pipes
• Soil, gravel, and stones
• Bricks and concrete

There will not be a charge for general mixed garden waste arising from a householder’s own activities.

The following charges will apply:

• £2 for a bag of loose material or a sheet of plasterboard
• £12 for a fully loaded hatchback / normal family car
• £20 for a trailer less than 1.5m in length
• £40 for a trailer over 1.5m (plus £10 for every 30cm up to the 3 metre limit)
• £80 for a transit van full of commercial waste.

Additional information relating to charging:

• No cash can be taken on site
• A member of staff will advise you of the amount payable
• Payment must be made by debit card, credit card, or pre-paid debit card
• Charges are not negotiable

Any waste which you have in your possession due to being a landlord is classed as trade waste and therefore you are not allowed to use the HWRC.

If you are signed up through the North Tyneside National Landlords Association (NLA) partnership you will be able to access the North Tyneside Transfer Station (commercial disposal facility next to the HWRC) for the disposal of household items free of charge for a limited number of visits. See our advice for private landlords.

All landlords have options available, all of which will be chargeable:

• You can ask a private company for a quote for collections and/or disposal
• You can use a commercial waste transfer/disposal facility, such as the North Tyneside Transfer Station next to the HWRC
• You could make enquiries about skip hire

Any waste produced from these scenarios is NOT domestic household waste and therefore cannot be accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Centre. You have some choices available to you, all of which will be chargeable:

• You could ask the council to quote for collection
• You can ask a private company for a quotation for collections and/or disposal
• You could make enquiries about skip hire
• You could use any commercial site – charges will apply – there is a commercial waste transfer station next door to the tip

Further information about what to do with your business waste.

The waste produced by the tradesperson is business waste; therefore it would be a breach of the site licence and an offence under the Environmental Protection Act for them to do that, even if the householder accompanied the tradesperson in the vehicle.

You will need to make a private arrangement to dispose of the waste.