Do you need a skip permit in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Yes, if the skip will stand on the public highway. Newcastle City Council is the highway authority for the city and requires a permit for any skip placed on the highway, which includes the road, the pavement and grass verges. The permit requirement applies to the highway, so a skip on your own drive or other private land does not need one.
What a skip licence costs in Newcastle
Newcastle City Council's published skip permit fee is £40, which covers the skip for up to 28 days. If the skip is needed for longer, a new application is required. The council says applications take about 10 weekdays to process, so book the skip in good time.
Skip permits are normally arranged by the skip company rather than the householder. The application must include the company's public liability insurance details, with cover of at least £5 million. If the skip is to go in a pay and display, loading, disabled or taxi rank bay, a separate parking suspension is also needed. Before you book, check that the supplier holds a current waste carrier registration, and ask whether the permit is included in the quote. Newcastle City Council also restricts works on some streets during major events and at certain times of year, so mention the address and dates when you ask for a quote. Our skip permit guide explains how permits work across the UK.
Recycling centres near Newcastle
Newcastle City Council runs three household waste and recycling centres. They open every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, and close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
- Brunswick, Brunswick Industrial Estate, Sandy Lane, NE13 7BA: 8am to 6pm daily. This is the only site that takes vans and other permit vehicles, and it does not take DIY waste or rubble.
- Byker, Glasshouse Street, off Walker Road, NE6 1AH: 8am to 6pm daily. Small amounts of DIY waste, rubble, soil and stones are accepted.
- Walbottle, Walbottle Road, NE15 8HY: 9am to 6pm daily. Small amounts of DIY waste, rubble, soil and stones are accepted.
All three sites take small DIY amounts of plasterboard, up to four tyres and small gas bottles up to 15kg. No site accepts asbestos. You must arrive by vehicle or cargo bike, as there is no access on foot. Last entry is 15 minutes before closing for a small car load, 30 minutes for a large car load and an hour for permit vehicles.
Vans, pick-ups, vehicles towing a trailer, vehicles with rear seats removed and liveried vehicles need a permit and can only use Brunswick. Residents request permits by text through the council's permit service and receive six permits for a 12-month period. Each visit needs photo ID and proof of a Newcastle address.
Trade waste is not accepted at any centre. Taking business waste to a household site is an offence, with a fixed penalty of £400 to £700 or prosecution.
Bulky waste collection in Newcastle
Newcastle City Council collects bulky household items for a charge, booked and paid for through the council's online booking service. Prices are shown as you go through the booking form, the council was offering a 25% discount at checkout when we checked, and some items have quantity limits. Fridge and freezer bookings were temporarily paused.
The service is for domestic households only. Landlords and managing agents must arrange their own disposal. The council will not collect car parts, oil, paint or other liquids, clinical waste, or double-glazed units and window frames. Heavy DIY waste such as plasterboard, tiles, bricks, soil and stones must be broken up and bagged in the council's blue rubble sacks.
For a kitchen or bathroom refit, a garden clearance or anything with a lot of rubble, a skip is usually the simpler option, because the household centres take only small amounts of building waste and Brunswick takes no rubble.
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 Newcastle: common questions
Do I need a permit for a skip on my drive in Newcastle?
No. Newcastle City Council's permit is for skips on the highway, including the pavement or a verge, so a skip on your own drive does not need one. On the road or pavement, the council's permit costs £40 for up to 28 days and takes about 10 weekdays to process.
Can I take a van of rubble to a Newcastle tip instead?
Not easily. Vans need a permit and can only use Brunswick, which does not accept DIY waste or rubble. Byker and Walbottle take only small amounts of rubble, soil and building waste.
Do Newcastle recycling centres take asbestos?
No. None of the three Newcastle centres accepts items containing asbestos, so contact the council or a licensed specialist before you start work.
Will the council collect bags of rubble on a bulky collection?
Only if it is broken up and bagged in the council's blue rubble sacks, and the service is for domestic households only. For larger amounts a skip is usually more practical.
Council details checked October 2026. Fees, opening times and booking rules can change, so confirm them with the council or your supplier.