Permit scheme for waste recycling centres

You need to hand over one of your permits to staff on site for each visit you make. They will check the permit, your vehicle details and the nature of the waste you are bringing onto site, and then show you how to use the site facilities.                                                              

The maximum number of commercial permits you are entitled to in a single year is 12, meaning you can visit a recycling centre on 12 separate occasions during the year. If you do not use all your permits within a year, you can continue to use them in the next year.                                                            

We can only issue new permits once all your existing permits have been used and if it has been over 12 months since your first application.                                                                    

If your address or vehicle details change, you will need to re-apply for a new set of permits. We will only issue you with the number of permits that are unused for the year (for example if you have already visited the recycling centres eight times in the year, we will re-issue four permits with new vehicle details).                                                            

If you would be borrowing a commercial type vehicle from a friend or relative to dispose of household waste, you would need a commercial permit and to supply a letter from the owner giving permission for you to use the vehicle for the transport of household waste.                                                              

You will need the standard letter for borrowed vehicles document link (PDF, 183KB) for this.

If you would be borrowing a commercial type vehicle from a business or your employer to dispose of household waste, you would need a commercial permit and to supply a letter from the owner (or their representative) on company notepaper giving permission for you to use the vehicle for the transport of household waste.                                                              

You will need the standard letter for company vehicles document link (PDF, 184KB) for this.

You can apply for up to four temporary permits per year (these are not in addition to standard permits). Temporary permits expire 14 days after the date of issue.                                                          

For hire vehicles, you will also need to bring your lease hire agreement with your temporary permit when visiting any household waste recycling centre.                                                      

1. Only residents within the Leeds city boundary can apply for a Commercial, Large Vehicle, Hire Vehicle and Trailer Permit to use the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).
2. Residents with valid applications will be issued with 12 permits (maximum of 4 permits for borrowed or company vehicles). Only one set of permits is valid per household. You can apply for more permits after all 12 have been used, but not before12 months has elapsed. These permits have no expiry date.
3. Vans that are either high roofed, medium or long wheelbase or exceed 3 tonnes (3000kg) gross vehicle weight are not allowed on site. Please check your vehicle log book for the vehicle revenue weight or speak with your vehicle hire company.
4. Residents using temporary hire vehicles (see information at point 3 above) can apply for up to 4 temporary permits per year (these are not in addition to standard permits). Temporary permits expire 14 days after the date of issue. For hire vehicles, you will also need to bring your hire agreement with your temporary permit when visiting any HWRC.
5. Permits will allow the free disposal of household waste only. They cannot be used for the disposal of trade waste. This includes waste from business, retail or commercial premises, property developers, landlords or waste generated by tradespersons (e.g. electricians, builders, glaziers, gardeners and plumbers) working in a domestic property.
6. Discretion is used by our Leeds City Council (LCC) site staff to identify any potential trade waste. Any items identified and deemed as trade waste can only be disposed of at our Kirkstall waste site where there are trade facilities. Charges for trade waste will apply.
7. All waste disposal at our HWRCs is monitored, and we will take enforcement action if you attempt to dispose of trade waste via the household waste facilities. The maximum penalty is a fine of£50,000 and up to 12 months imprisonment in the Magistrates Court or 5 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine at the Crown Court.
8. HWRCs are designed for reasonable amounts of household waste. If you generate significant quantities of waste from large scale works such as renovations, construction, demolition or other similar works in your home you need to make other arrangements such as hiring a skip.
9. There is a charge for soil/inert/rubble type waste, plasterboard and tyres. Details of the charges can be found online. The charge will be calculated at the time of disposal and payment can be made by debit or credit card only.
10. Trailers must be of a reasonable size maximum 1.8m x 1.2m (6ft x 4ft), single axle, unbraked and not be excessively loaded. Sides of trailers must not be built up to allow for more capacity. Residents deemed to be carrying excessive waste risk having their permits withdrawn.
11. You can only tow a trailer on site when it is being towed by a car, estate, 4x4 without pickup or a people carrier. You cannot tow a trailer on site when it is being towed by a van, minibus, pickup or campervan.
12. Campervans are exempt from point 3 above only when the van has been fully converted with permanent fixtures and fittings. If the fixtures and fittings are removed, the vehicle will no longer be considered exempt and will not be allowed on site.
13. Permits remain the property of LCC and must be surrendered on request. Permits have no cash value and may not be traded.
14. The council retains the right to deny, amend or withdraw permits, or change their conditions of use at any time, without prior notice and accepts no liability for any loss relating to such action.
15. Any vehicle which has sign writing or a company logo relating to a business may not dispose of waste which relates to that business. For example a vehicle which has ‘Plastering’ on the side may not dispose of plaster, gypsum, plasterboard etc. Please see point 6 above for information on disposal of trade waste.
16. We expect all residents to contribute to the city’s recycling initiatives and in doing so ensure they use the correct containers as directed by our staff and recycle their waste wherever possible.
17. Residents are asked wherever possible to separate and segregate their different waste types prior to visiting one of the HWRC’s. This will assist with reuse and recycling and minimise your time at our site.
18. The welfare of our staff and residents is of paramount importance. They are entitled to a safe working environment, free from abusive or aggressive behaviour. Any incident of this nature will be reported to the Police.
19. A permit provides permission to enter the site only and is not a permit to deposit waste which will be subject to the Waste Acceptance Policy.