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Waste permits

Access policy changes

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:

You’ll only need a general or recycling permit if you’re bringing your waste in a van, some commercial vehicles, or a twin axle trailer (see access policy).

To get a permit, you’ll need to give the vehicle’s registration number, make, and model.

Apply for a waste permit

Recyclable waste permit

You can use a recyclable waste permit to visit a recycling centre as often as you need for one year. You can use it to drop off the following types of recyclable waste:

  • 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

You need a general waste permit to dispose of any rubbish that isn’t covered by the inert waste or recyclable waste permits. 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 waste 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.

If you need to visit a recycling centre three times in one weekend in January, you can request permits for January, February and March in advance. This means you’ll have enough permits ready to use in January.

If you visit a recycling centre in a van towing a trailer (single or double axle), and there’s waste in both the van and the trailer, you’ll 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

If you want to visit a recycling centre on foot or by bike, you’ll need a waste permit.

To apply, email wasteinfo@lancashire.gov.uk with:

  • your name

  • your address

  • the name of the recycling centre you want to visit

You must live within 3 miles of the recycling centre to apply.