Where to take your waste and recycling

Here you will find details of where you can take your waste and recycling. You can check opening times for household waste recovery centres (tips), and apply for a waste permit.

Page Contents:

Household Waste Recovery Centres (HWRCs)

There are 12 HWRCs across the county where you can take your household waste. Waste recovery centres are more commonly known as ‘tips’.

As per Government guidance, people should minimise the number of journeys they make where possible at this time. Please only visit our HWRCs if your journey is essential.

Quick links:


Site rules

  • Social distancing measures must be adhered to at all times by both staff and visitors. All site users must adhere to the 2m social distancing rules.
  • Only one person per vehicle should travel to the site, as only one person will be permitted outside their vehicle once on-site. People must remain in their vehicle whilst queuing. Drivers or a passenger with a valid blue badge will be permitted access and a passenger (subject to normal social distancing rules) can unload the waste on the driver’s behalf if necessary. 
  • If you are using the site and don't require a permit you may be asked to show proof that you live in Northumberland. If asked, you will need to provide evidence from a utility or council tax bill, or any other item that shows you are a resident of Northumberland. Please have these items to hand when you visit.
  • If you are using the HWRC sites under the permit scheme you will be required to bring photo ID, such as a driving license, and proof of residency, such as a utility or council tax bill.
  • The above information is required to ensure HWRC sites are not abused by traders and those not entitled to use the sites.
  • No assistance will be given to offload materials by site staff so only bring what you can safely carry.
  • Sites can only accept
    • bagged general household waste
    • garden waste
    • cardboard
    • glass bottles
    • TVs
    • small electrical appliances
    • wood
    • carpets
    • bulky items of household waste such as old furniture.
    • mattresses
    • scrap metal
    • beverage and drinks cartons eg Tetrapacks
    • comingled materials eg paper, card, plastic bottles, aluminium & steel cans
    • fluorescent tubes
    • batteries - household and vehicle.​
    • Construction waste, such as soil, rubble and plasterboard (disposal fees apply - credit card payments only)
    • All white goods (provided they can be carried by one person)
    • Compost sales have now resumed, where applicable (credit card payments only)
    • used engine oil and gas cylinders
  • Do not attend the site if you are self-isolating due to having/or having had possible COVID-19 symptoms.
  • If any households have had COVID-19 symptoms, then the waste should be left for 72 hours before being brought to site. Waste should be doubled bagged.
  • If residents have sanitary or incontinence pad waste this should be bagged and placed in their household general waste bin and the excess household waste brought to site.

These site rules apply to all residents visiting any of our HWRCs at all times.

Opening times

HWRC Site                                        Opening Hours
Alnwick
Bebside
Berwick
Hexham
Morpeth
North Seaton
Prudhoe (West Wylam)		 Monday - Sunday: 8am to 7:30pm
Allendale
Haltwhistle
Kirkley West Thorn
North Sunderland
Wooler		 Friday - Monday: 8am to 7:30pm
(Closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)


Please bear with us throughout operation of this restricted service.

Please treat our staff with respect and consideration during this challenging period. 


PLEASE NOTE:

  • All tips are closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. 
  • Some tips may close early or open late due to adverse weather conditions. Please check our council alerts page for more updates.
  • Periodically, the tips will be temporarily closed for container exchange. Your patience is appreciated during these times.


Before travelling to a HWRC (tip)

Before travelling to HWRC (tip), you should think about the following:
  • storing items at home
  • making use of retailer take-back services or making your old items available for immediate re-use via on-line platforms. Make sure you follow social distancing and related guidance and that it is safe for you to move the items in question
  • checking the Reuse Network website to see if there are options available for small businesses or charities in your area to mend or repurpose your furniture and appliances. This may also be a good opportunity to repair, repurpose or re-use items such as old furniture or clothes yourself which you would usually throw away
  • alternatively, you could use a private registered waste collection company, although there will be a cost if you do this. Remember, you have a duty to make sure you know where your waste is going and to ensure that the person collecting your waste is registered. You can do this by checking the Environment Agency’s website.

Your questions answered

Which documents do I need?

You will need to show photographic ID when arriving on site, for example a driving license or passport, as well as proof of address, such as a utility bill. You will need to display this in the windscreen of your vehicle. This applies to all those attending a HWRC, including permit scheme applicants.

 

How long will these restrictions be in place for?

We must all continue to adhere to the continuing advice from the Government to slow the spread of Coronavirus. It is really important that we all maintain social distancing and stay 2m from individuals. To do this at the tips (Household Waste Recovery Centres), we must limit the number of residents on site at any one time and the types of containers that are available to use. We will continue to follow advice from the Government and review the practices at the Household Waste Recovery Centres in order that staff and residents stay safe.

 

Can I bring bin bags with clothes in for the clothes bank?

You should only visit the tip if it is essential, i.e. if waste materials cannot be stored at home without causing risk of injury or harm to health. Textiles don’t cause risk of injury or harm to human health, so residents are requested to continue to store bagged textiles at home.


If only one person will be permitted outside the vehicle once on site, and no assistance will be given to offload materials by site staff, how will I manage to get bulky waste items out of my vehicle?

Social distancing measures must be adhered to at all times by both staff and visitors. Residents with items that require 2 people to lift are advised to store the item at home until social distancing restrictions are relaxed and we are able to accommodate heavy and bulky items.


We live in Northumberland but our postcode is Cumbria - will we still be able to visit Northumberland tips?

HWRC operatives have been provided with a list of postcodes relevant to Northumberland residents, so a Cumbria postcode whilst paying Council tax to Northumberland County Council will allow you access to the HWRC facilities.
 

Tip locations

Address: Silburn Road, NE47 9LG. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400

 

Opening times

Allendale tip is open Friday - Monday: 8am to 7.30pm (closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)


Click here to see site rules for all tips (HWRCs) during the coronavirus outbreak.
Address: Plot B, Lionheart Enterprise Park, Alnwick, NE66 2HT. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400

 

Opening times

Alnwick tip is open Monday - Sunday: 8am to 7.30pm 

 

There is no access for pedestrians at this site.
Address: Hathery Lane, Bebside, NE24 4HN. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400

 

Opening times

Bebside tip is open Monday - Sunday: 8am to 7.30pm

 
Address: Ramparts Business Park, Berwick, TD15 1UN. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400

 

Opening times

Berwick tip is open Monday - Sunday: 8am to 7.30pm


There is no access for pedestrians at this site.

Address: Town Foot, Haltwhistle, NE49 0ET. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400

 

Opening times

Haltwhistle tip is open Friday - Monday: 8am to 7.30pm (closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

There is no access for pedestrians at this site.
Address: French Garden Industrial Estate, Hexham, NE46 4DL. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400

 

Opening times

Hexham tip is open Monday - Sunday: 8am to 7.30pm


There is no access for pedestrians at this site.
Address: near Ponteland - please turn off the A696 at the Catch Seafood restaurant, where signposted to the household waste recovery centre. Please use postcode NE20 0DH for locating by sat nav. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400

 

Opening times

Kirkley West Thorn tip is open Friday - Monday: 8am to 7.30pm (closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)


There is no access for pedestrians at this site.
Address: Morpeth, NE61 3AB. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400

 

Opening times

Morpeth tip is open Monday - Sunday: 8am to 7.30pm


There is no access for pedestrians at this site.
Address: North Seaton Industrial Estate, Ashington, NE63 0YB. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400

 

Opening times

North Seaton tip is open Monday - Sunday: 8am to 7.30pm

Address: near Seahouses, NE68 7UP. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400 

 

Opening times

North Sunderland tip is open Friday - Monday: 8am to 7.30pm (closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)


There is no access for pedestrians at this site.
Address: Broomhouse Road, West Wylam, NE42 5ED. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400

 

Opening times

Prudhoe tip is open Monday - Sunday: 8am to 7.30pm

Address: Brewery Lane, NE71 6QG. Please click here for a location map.

Phone: 0345 600 6400 

 

Opening times

Wooler tip is open Friday - Monday: 8am to 7.30pm (closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

 

 

Household Waste Recovery Centres (Tip) - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding Household Waste Recovery Centres (HWRCs), also known as 'tips'.

This information was last updated 12 April 2021

Our tips are currently open and operating at summer opening hours.


We advise residents to recycle from home as much as possible in order to limit their time spent outside the home. The following items can be placed in household recycling bins: paper and magazines, cardboard, plastic bottles, clean/rinsed food tins, drinks cans, and aerosols.


Vans / trailers permit scheme

Please click here for more information about applying for a permit and booking a time slot at your local tip. 

Local recycling points

Recycling points are small collection points where you can recycle things like glass bottles, jars, shoes, and clothes. There are more than 170 locations across Northumberland.

Please click here to find your local recycling point.

 

Report a problem at a local recycling point:

Household waste permits

Any one household is allowed a maximum of 12 permits per year.

This information was last updated 12 April 2021.

New household waste permit scheme is now available.
 
When the HWRCs re-opened in May 2020, the scheme remained unavailable due to Covid-19 restrictions. The scheme has been reintroduced and in effect since 26 October 2020.
 

Apply for a permit 

The permit scheme is available for application online only through our new online booking system. You can no longer apply for a permit via the phone.
 

Apply for a permit and book your slot at the tip here.
 

Please note: 
  • Any permit obtained before the pandemic is no longer valid. Please do not attempt to access a site with an old-style permit. 
  • There is no exchange or refund option available for HWRC (tip) permit applications should you be unable to attend as per your booking, regardless of circumstance and there are no exceptions to this rule. Customers will have to go back online and book another slot, which will be taken off their annual allowance of 12 permits.  
 

Availability 

To manage demand and increased offloading times, you will need to book a time and date slot before visiting the tip. The online booking form below will show you available slots.
 
You MUST book 48 hours in advance of your visit, so please plan your journey ahead of time. 

 

Who requires a permit? 

Vans, trailers, single-cab pickup trucks and 4 x 4s require a permit to attend our HWRCs. Click here to see exact specifications.
 
Private use domestic cars, including people carriers, twin cab pick-ups, SUV’s and campervans with windows and seats in the rear do not require a permit and do not require a booking via the online form. 

Number of permits

  • Although you are allocated 12 permits per annum, for accuracy only 1 permit can be applied for at one time. 
  • A maximum of 3 permits can be applied for per 7 days. 
  • Only household waste is permitted. Commercial or trade waste of any sort cannot be taken to the HWRC. 
  • If the permit is not used or you fail to attend your chosen time slot, please note the permit cannot be reallocated to your yearly or 7-day allowance. 
  • Your annual allocation of 12 permits was reset on 26 October 2020. 

 

Using the online form 

Apply for a permit and book your slot at the tip here.
 

You will need to provide: 
  • Your address and the address from which the household waste is coming from 
  • Answers to questions about your vehicle size and weight 
  • Your vehicle registration number, make and model 
  • An email address for confirmation of your booking 
  • The site, day and time you want to visit 
  • Contact information (name and email address) 
  • What waste you are bringing to the site 

 

Visting the tip with a new permit 

Booking confirmation required 
You will need to provide evidence of your booking and proof of ID – driving licence preferable - when you arrive. Vehicles that require a permit will be turned away if they cannot provide evidence of their booking information. 
 
Permits can only be received via email. The booking form will ask you to provide your email address, and confirmation of your booking will be sent to you via email. If you have smartphone, you can display the email at the site instead of printing the email. 

Misuse of permit scheme
Fraudulent use of the permit system will result in residents being barred from using the service.  For example, misuse of address or vehicle information and attempted use of the HWRC to deposit trade waste. 
 
Respect our staff 
Waste staff have the right to refuse entry into a site, and their decision is final. No abuse toward staff and crew will be tolerated. Action will be taken in instances of inappropriate or abusive behaviour toward staff.  

Does your vehicle require a permit?

Vehicle/User Category No permit required Permit required No access to HWRC permitted
Private use domestic car, including people carriers, twin cab pick-ups, SUV’s and campervans with windows and seats in the rear. X    
Adapted disability vehicle (with blue badge)  X    
Trailer / Horse Box  5ft (1.52m) or shorter  X    
Vehicles up to 3.5 GVW with the exception of box vans   X  
Trailer  / Horse Box more than 5ft but no longer than 9ft 10 (3m) long   X  
Single cab pick-up truck or 4 x 4 with no rear seats and no rear windows or with removable or canvas canopy    X  
Trailer  / Horse Box more than 9ft 10 (3M)     X
Vehicle more than 4 wheels (incl double wheel base)     X
Any GVW Flatbed / Tipper truck / Box van     X
Any Vehicle > 3.5 Tonnes GVW     X
Tractor or other agricultural vehicle      X


Where are the trailer measurements taken from?
The length is measured from the foremost point of the trailer hitch to the rear extremity of the trailer body.

What can I recycle at a HWRC?

​Northumberland tips (household waste recovery centres) have now reopened.

Our sites can only accept:
  • bagged general household waste
  • garden waste
  • wood
  • bulky items of household waste such as old furniture
  • cardboard
  • glass bottles
  • TVs
  • small electrical appliances (e.g. hair dryers, vacuum cleaners)
  • carpets
  • mattresses
  • scrap metal
  • beverage and drinks cartons eg Tetrapacks
  • comingled materials eg paper, card, plastic bottles, aluminium & steel cans
  • fluorescent tubes
  • batteries - household and vehicle
  • construction waste, such as soil, rubble and plasterboard (disposal fees apply - credit card payments only)
  • compost sales have now resumed, where applicable (credit card payments only).
  • all white goods (provided they can be carried by one person)
  • used engine oil and gas cylinders
A helpful guide on what goes in the rigid plastic container

New rules for DIY waste

Although the tips reopened on Monday 4 May 2020, sites still need to implement social distancing instructions. Due to this, sites can only accept:

  • Bagged general household waste 
  • Garden waste
  • Cardboard
  • Glass bottles
  • TVs
  • Small electrical appliances
  • Wood

The following items can be brought to our sites, provided they can be carried safely by one person:
  • Mattress
  • Scrap Metal
  • Carpet
  • Bulky items of household waste (old furniture)
  • White goods



Annual limit for DIY waste

Residents may dispose of no more than six cubic yards of DIY waste per household in one year. This rule applies to all types of vehicles and trailers and all types of DIY waste including; rubble, tiles, slates, laminate flooring, garden sheds, bathroom and kitchen fittings, and window frames.

There is a charge to dispose of certain DIY waste items - please click here to find out more.

 

Pay-as-you-throw

Residents who would like to dispose of rubble, plasterboard, soil, and ceramic bathroom and kitchen fittings must pay a fee. These are payable by credit, debit, or prepaid card only. Cash and cheques are not accepted.

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