Household Waste Recycling Centre visitor rules

Cumberland Council and Biffa who manage Cumberland Council’s HWRCs with its sub-contractor Cumbria Waste Management Ltd reserve the right to refuse access to anyone not complying with the HWRC visitor rules and/or attempting to deposit of trade waste. 

Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are for residents only.

By visiting a site, your waste type, vehicle registration and descriptions will be recorded in the event of suspicious illicit or illegal activity.

Waste we accept on site

Our Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) accept household waste only. Trade waste is not accepted.

Trade waste

Trade waste is not permitted at any of our HWRCs, this includes (but is not limited to) waste from:

• traders
• landlords
• property developers
• people doing ‘tip-runs’ or shifting waste for cash
• ‘handyman’ waste
• holiday lets
• guesthouses
• hotels
• Airbnb’s
• campsites

What you need to do with trade waste

Depositing trade waste at our HWRCs may amount to a criminal offence under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.  You will be referred to our Enforcement Teams for investigation if we suspect you've commited an offence.

Rules for visiting a Household Waste Recycling Centre

To help everyone stay safe, before you visit you should:

• sort waste and recycling before your visit to minimise time on site and use the correct, designated container for your type of waste, this is to avoid contamination and increase recycling rates. If in doubt, ask a member of staff
• wear suitable footwear (not flip-flops, sandals or high heels) and clothing when visiting the HWRC to help prevent accidents, slips, trips and falls. Think about wearing gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges on your waste
• be aware that site staff can only assist with carrying heavier items once you have removed them from your vehicle, so please bring someone with you if you need help with lifting heavier items out of your vehicle
• be aware that in the interest of health and safety, some of our sites need to close for short periods throughout the day for container exchanges
• apply for a waste permit in advance of your visit if using a car towing a double axle trailer (up to 3m long), a van or a utility vehicle or if you are a pedestrian arriving on foot

Apply for a waste permit

You can either:

• apply online
• call: 0300 373 3730

Waste permit applications can only be processed Monday to Friday during office hours (9am to 5pm).

While you're on site

You should:

• follow staff’s instructions at all times and be considerate of other site users 
• notify a member of staff upon arrival if you require assistance due to disability or mobility issues. Alternatively, please bring a family member or friend to assist
• keep children and pets safely inside your car during your visit to the site
• drive with care and keep to the 5mph speed restriction at all times
• be aware of vehicles and use pedestrian routes where possible
• familiarise yourself with the site layout, especially noting where there are any steps you may need to use
• take care handling waste to prevent cuts or injuries and consider wearing gloves
• ask site staff if you are depositing hazardous waste or chemicals
• ask site staff if you’re in doubt of where to dispose of your waste

You should not:

• bring trade waste to the HWRC
• tow a trailer if using a van or utility vehicle to visit the HWRC
• drive against the one-way system 
• smoke or vape whilst on site
• climb on barriers, into containers or into your trailer whilst unloading waste
• throw waste up into containers or across areas where other site  users are walking
• shovel any waste from your trailer directly into the container, make sure your waste is in liftable bags that you can easily empty
• bring your waste in your wheelie bin, you will be refused entry with it - if you have a damaged wheelie bin contact us to arrange the collection of it
• not remove waste from containers

We operate a zero tolerance approach to violence and aggression towards the HWRC staff.  Please be polite and respectful to site staff and site users at all times. Any physical or verbal abuse of our staff or other site users will not be tolerated.

Anyone found to be abusive towards our staff or other site users may be reported to the police along with relevant CCTV footage. This may also result in being banned from our HWRCs.

Vehicles and trailers

Check that your vehicle and/or trailer comply with our site rules before visiting the HWRC.

Vehicles and trailers that require a waste permit, but arrive without a valid permit will not be allowed access to the HWRC.

Make sure your vehicle and/or trailer is roadworthy, taxed, insured for personal use and your trailer has a registration number plate affixed, which carries the same registration number as the car towing it. Your license must allow you to tow trailers. You will be asked to leave the site if you do not have these in place.

Check towing rules (GOV.UK)

You are not allowed to park your vehicle outside the site and walk waste into the site.

Plan your visit

Weekdays are less busy, expect queues at weekends and bank holidays and when queuing outside the HWRC be mindful not to block nearby business entrances or side-roads.