Do you need a skip licence in Dudley?
Yes, if the skip goes on the public highway, which includes the road and the pavement. Dudley Council issues skip licences across the borough, including Stourbridge, Halesowen, Brierley Hill and Sedgley, and the skip cannot be placed until the council has processed the application.
What a skip licence costs in Dudley
Dudley Council sets its skip licence fee in its yearly schedule of fees and charges, and it changes each year, so ask your supplier for a total hire price that includes it. Allow up to 5 days for the application to be processed, and book ahead of the date you need the skip.
The skip company applies, not the customer. The council only issues licences to recognised skip companies, in the company's own name, and they must send proof of public liability insurance, currently at least £5 million. The council may inspect the site, check planned street works, and suggest a different date or position. It can refuse an application that would cause traffic disruption. Our skip permit guide explains how licences work in general.
Council rules for a skip on the road
- The skip must be kept in good, clean condition.
- It must be guarded by traffic cones in daylight and lit with lamps during darkness.
- It must be removed within two days of being filled, or when the licence ends, whichever comes first.
Tell the supplier as soon as the skip is full so the collection can be booked in time.
Recycling centres near Dudley
Dudley Council's household waste recycling centre is on Birmingham Street in Stourbridge (DY8 1JE), reached through a car park about 100 metres along the A458 from the ring road. It opens daily from 8am to 4pm, with a later 6pm close on Mondays from April to September, and shuts on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Every visit must be booked online, and staff turn away anyone without a booking.
- Hardcore, rubble and soil: up to the equivalent of two standard refuse sacks per visit, bagged separately.
- Plasterboard: one sack per visit from minor DIY work.
- Asbestos: not accepted.
- Commercial waste: not accepted.
- Cars with trailers and commercial-type vehicles need a van and trailer permit. It is free for Dudley residents, allows up to 12 visits a year, and takes up to 10 working days to arrive. Vehicles taller than 1.98m and cars with trailers must book an appointment, and taller vehicles can only visit on Wednesdays.
The council also runs pop-up sites that take car bookings only, with no vans, trailers, liquids or hazardous waste.
Bulky waste collection in Dudley
Dudley Council collects bulky items for a points-based charge. Its published prices start at £33.22 for up to 10 points and rise to £119.37 for 31 to 40 points, and white goods are charged per item. Book and pay through MyDudley and put items at the kerb by 6.30am on the day. The council does not collect builders' materials, soil, rubble, asbestos, boilers, ceramic sinks or toilets, glass, tyres or liquids, and it is not currently collecting fridges or freezers. Mattresses, bed bases and carpets go through a separate scheme.
Choosing a size
For heavy waste like soil or rubble, most suppliers limit you to a smaller skip, often 6 yards or less, because weight rather than volume is the limit. The size guide works it out from what you are clearing.
Skip hire in Dudley: common questions
How far ahead should I book a skip in Dudley?
Allow at least 5 days if the skip is going on the road, because Dudley Council can take up to 5 days to process a licence and the skip cannot go down before then.
Who applies for a Dudley skip licence?
The skip company. Dudley Council only licenses recognised skip companies that hold at least £5 million of public liability insurance.
How quickly must a full skip be collected in Dudley?
Within two days of being filled, or by the end of the licence if that comes first.
Can I take building rubble to the Stourbridge tip?
Only small amounts. Dudley's recycling centre takes up to two sacks' worth of hardcore, rubble and soil per visit, and the bulky collection will not take builders' materials, so a skip is usually the practical option for renovation waste. Skip hire in West Bromwich and Sandwell and the wider West Midlands is covered on separate pages.
Council details checked October 2026. Fees, opening times and booking rules can change, so confirm them with the council or your supplier.