Do you need a skip permit in Wigan?
Yes, if the skip goes on the public highway. In Wigan that means a licence from Wigan Council, which is the highway authority for the whole borough, including Leigh, Hindley, Standish and Atherton. Putting a skip on the highway without one is an offence under the Highways Act 1980 and can lead to prosecution. A skip on your own drive or other private land needs no licence. Nor does one on an unadopted road, which is a private road the council does not maintain.
What a skip licence costs in Wigan
Wigan Council charges £58 for a skip licence, rising to £65 for a skip in Wigan or Leigh town centre. A licence lasts up to 28 days. If the job runs longer, a fresh application is needed once the 28 days are up.
- Who applies: the skip company, not the householder. A registered skip operator applies and pays online.
- Lead time: the application must go in at least two working days before the skip is needed.
- Payment: the fee is paid when the application is made.
- Right council: only addresses inside the Wigan borough are licensed by Wigan Council. A skip just over the boundary, for example in Bolton or Salford, needs a licence from that council instead.
If your street is unadopted, tell the supplier when you enquire, because no licence is needed there. Our skip permit guide explains how licences work in more detail.
Council rules for a skip on the road
- A skip on the highway must show warning lights from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. The council can fine operators who leave a skip unlit.
- A licence lasts no more than 28 days, and a longer stay needs a new application.
- Licence questions go to the council's Network Management team.
Recycling centres near Wigan
Wigan runs its own recycling centres and is not part of the shared service used by the other nine Greater Manchester boroughs. The sites are for Wigan borough residents only, and staff can ask for a photo driving licence showing a Wigan borough address. Holders of an old paper licence also need a second document, such as a passport or a council tax bill.
- Kirkless, Makerfield Way, Higher Ince, WN2 2PR. This is the only site that takes asbestos and pesticides.
- Slag Lane, Leigh, WA3 1BZ.
- Chanters, Chanters Industrial Estate, Atherton, M46 9BP.
All three open every day: 8am to 7.45pm in summer (from the last Sunday in March) and 9am to 5.45pm in winter (from the last Sunday in October). They close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, and can close early if traffic queues build up near closing time. No booking is needed for an ordinary visit.
The centres take soil, hardcore and rubble, including bricks, concrete, paving slabs, tiles and sanitaryware, and plasterboard. The council monitors these materials. Trade waste is not accepted, and that includes waste from landlords and property developers. Asbestos goes only to Kirkless, on Saturday mornings by appointment. It must be double-wrapped in heavy plastic and in packages small enough to fit a 1-metre container opening. Bringing more than 15 packages can lead to a home visit from the council.
A car, with or without a single-axle trailer, needs no permit. A van under 3.5 tonnes, or any vehicle towing a twin-axle trailer, needs a free waste permit. Each permit covers one visit within seven days, and each household gets 12 permits in a 12-month period. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are not allowed at any site. Trailers can be up to 3 metres long at Slag Lane and Chanters and up to 4 metres at Kirkless. For a big clear-out or a building job, one skip is often simpler than several permitted trips. Before loading, check what can go in a skip.
Bulky waste collection in Wigan
Wigan Council gives each property two free bulky waste collections in any 12 months, each for up to five items. After that, an extra collection costs £27 for up to five items. Items are counted by piece, so a bed base, headboard and mattress count as three. Bookings are made online through the council's MyAccount, up to five weeks ahead when slots are available. The service does not take rubble, bricks, soil, tiles, kitchen units, bathroom suites, doors, window frames, fence panels, sheds, garden waste or asbestos. Those need a recycling centre or a skip.
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 Wigan: common questions
How much is a skip licence in Wigan?
Wigan Council charges £58 for up to 28 days, or £65 in Wigan or Leigh town centre. The skip company applies and pays, at least two working days before delivery.
Do I need a licence on an unadopted road?
No. Wigan Council does not require a licence for a skip on an unadopted road or a private drive. A licence is only needed on the public highway.
Can Wigan residents use other Greater Manchester tips?
The shared recycling service and its van permits cover the other nine boroughs, not Wigan, so Wigan residents should use Kirkless, Slag Lane or Chanters under Wigan Council's rules.
Can I take bricks and rubble to a Wigan tip?
Yes, if it comes from your own home. All three centres take soil, hardcore, rubble and plasterboard, but not trade waste. A van needs a single-visit permit, so a skip is often easier for larger jobs.
Council details checked October 2026. Fees, opening times and booking rules can change, so confirm them with the council or your supplier.