Waste permits

You must apply for a free permit before you visit one of our recycling centres if you:

• use a van, including hire vans
• use a vehicle without side rear windows
• use a flat-back vehicle
• use a pickup vehicle
• use certain types of commercial vehicles
• use a twin axle trailer
• want to recycle inert waste

Types of waste permits

There are three types of permits available to access our recycling centres:

• Recyclable waste permit*
• General waste permit*
• Inert waste permit (required for all types of vehicles)
• Charity permits
• Pedestrian permits

* Please note that you only require recyclable and general permits if you choose to deliver your waste in a van, certain types of commercial vehicles or a twin axle trailer (see access policy).

To obtain a permit you will need to provide details of the vehicle registration number, make and model. 

Apply for a waste permit

Recyclable waste permit

A recyclable waste permit offers unlimited use of a recycling centre for a full year to deliver the following types of recyclable rubbish:

• green garden waste
• newspapers and magazines
• glass bottle and jars
• plastic bottles
• textiles, clothes and shoes
• cardboard
• drink cans and food tins
• carrier bags
• household batteries

This permit can only be used to recycle the items listed above. For all other types of rubbish you must obtain a General waste permit.

Please sign your recyclable waste permit and present it to a site attendant upon each visit. You can use this permit to visit any of Lancashire's recycling centres as often as you wish in the nominated vehicle.

General waste permit

A general waste permit is issued for all other types of rubbish not covered by the inert waste or recyclable waste permit for example:

• asbestos
• furniture (sofa and armchairs, wardrobes)
• gas bottles
• hard plastics
• large domestic appliances (cookers, washing machines, tumble dryers)
• non-recyclable waste (excessive bin waste)
• scrap metal
• small electrics
• televisions and monitors
• tyres
• wood

You can obtain a general waste permit for any of the types of rubbish accepted by the recycling centres. You will only be allowed to recycle the rubbish items shown on your permit.

Each general waste permit allows one visit per calendar month to a recycling centre. If you need more than one trip to the recycling centre in a calendar month, you can order up to 3 months permits at one time. Each permit will state which month it is valid for. However, you can use these permits for up to 2 months before and 2 months after the month stated on the permit.

For example, if you need to visit the recycling centre three times in a weekend in January, you can request a permit for January, February and March in advance so you can use them in January instead.

Please note that if you visit a recycling centre with a van towing a trailer (double or single axle) and there is waste in both the van and the trailer, you will need two permits. 

Inert waste permit

To deliver inert waste free of charge to a waste recycling centre you need to obtain a free inert waste permit.

Charity permits

Email the following details to wasteinfo@lancashire.gov.uk to allow us to consider your request:

• Contact name and position
• Contact telephone number
• Charity number
• Branch/premise address
• Vehicle registration number, make and model (please review our Access Policy)
• Household waste recycling closest to the branch/premise
• Types of wastes

Pedestrian and cyclist permits

To visit a recycling centre on foot or bike you will require waste permit. Email wasteinfo@lancashire.gov.uk with your name, address and the recycling centre you would like to visit. Applications will only be considered from residents who live 3 miles or less from a recycling centre.