Apply for a van or trailer permit
Apply online for a free permit to use a van or trailer at the household waste recycling centres.
Trailer permit
The permit allows 12 individual visits to the household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) in 12 months from the issue date.
Permits do not allow you to bring in any form of commercial waste.
Commercial waste is generally described as any waste generated as part of a business, or waste, including household waste, carried for profit/where payment has been made. For example, this would include house clearances, gardeners and odd job enterprises.
To be eligible for a permit, the towing vehicle must:
- be a non-commercial vehicle
- be no more than 6.7 metres long
- weigh no more than 3.5 tonnes
- not be a camper van, motorhome or minibus
- have a clear view out of the rear window.
Trailers are measured on the length of the load bed only.
You do not need a permit to tow a trailer less than 1.8 metres onto a waste site. Trailers over 3 meters are not allowed on a waste site.
What you need before you apply for a trailer permit
You need an email address to apply for a permit. If your application is successful, we will email your permit to you.
Vehicle details
We will ask for your vehicle registration number and search the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) database. Then, we will ask questions about your vehicle based on the results.
Business addresses
If your address is registered as business premises, you'll need to provide your current year council tax bill as proof that you live at the address. You can upload an image of the document to the form.
Read the terms and conditions
Before completing the application form, please read the terms and conditions and the van and trailer permit scheme policy.
Checking the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
During the permit application process, we check the DVLA for details about your vehicle, including:
- vehicle classification (commercial-type or non-commercial)
- vehicle weight
- tax status
- vehicle make.