Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) visitor rules

When you visit a Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) you must comply with our rules to make sure everyone stays safe and

Our Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are managed by Biffa with their sub-contractor Cumbria Waste Management Ltd they reserve the right to refuse access to anyone not complying with the HWRC visitor rules and/or attempting to deposit trade waste.

If we suspect illicit or illegal activity we will record details including waste type, vehicle registration and descriptions.

Our HWRCs are for local residents only. 

Find locations and opening times of our HWRC's.

Waste that we will take

Our Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) accept household waste from local residents.

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’/shifting waste for cash
  • ‘handyman’ waste
  • holiday lets
  • guesthouses
  • hotels
  • Airbnb’s
  • camp sites

Check how to dispose of trade waste.

Depositing trade waste at a Westmorland & Furness Council HWRC may amount to a criminal offence under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.  Any person(s) suspected of committing an offence will be referred to the Councils’ Enforcement Teams for investigation.

Before you visit

Weekdays are less busy, expect queues at weekends and Bank Holidays.

To make sure everyone stays safe on our site 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 before 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.

Waste permit applications can only be processed Mon-Fri during office hours 9am to 5pm.

Vehicles and trailers

Please check that your vehicle and/or trailer complies 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. 

Please ensure that 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. Failure to comply with this will result in you being asked to leave site. Check gov.uk information on towing with a car.

Visitors are not allowed to park their vehicle outside the site and walk waste into the site.

Our website has information on how to apply for a permit to bring waste to a household waste recycling centre.

Zero tolerance

Westmorland & Furness Council 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 to other site users. may be reported to the police with relevant CCTV footage. They may be banned from our HWRCs.

Site rules

Failure to comply with these rules may result in you being asked to leave the site and/or being denied future access.

When you're visiting one of our HWRC's.

Do:

  • 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
  • consult 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


Do Not:

  • block nearby business entrances or side-roads, when queuing outside the HWRC
  • 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. If you have a damaged wheelie bin you can order a new bin
  • remove waste from containers