What you can and cannot bring to our centres
We recommend taking any furniture, toys, clothes, and books to charities or donation banks.
You can see detailed information of how to recycle items on our recycling A to Z page.
We do not accept
- items containing asbestos
- clinical waste
- trade waste
We are only able to accept small amounts of building waste, rubble, soil and plasterboard at Byker and Walbottle sites only.
Please ask a site attendant if you require any assistance. Information about special items can be found further down this page.
| Item | Walbottle | Brunswick | Byker |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Batteries (domestic) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| *Batteries (vehicle) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Books | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Domestic DIY waste (small amounts only) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cans | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cardboard | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Carpets | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cartons | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CDs and DVDs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chemicals (turpentine, weed killer) in original packaging | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Household waste | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electrical and electronic devices (without batteries*) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fire extinguishers (maximum 1kg) domestic only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fluorescent tubes and low energy bulbs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fridges | Yes | No | No |
| Furniture | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Garden waste (green) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gas bottles (small) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Glass bottles and jars | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mattresses | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paper (including newspapers, magazines) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Old tyres (maximum 4) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oil (motor, vegetable) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| *Paint (water based, dry cans only) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Plastic Bottles | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Plasterboard (small DIY amounts only) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rubble, soil and stones (small amounts only) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Sofas | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Textiles | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Timber | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Televisions, monitors, and CRTs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| White goods and domestic appliances | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*Batteries: Remove any batteries from items so they can be correctly disposed of. This includes old mobile phones, remote controls, and single-use vape devices.
*Paint: Empty and clean metal varnish and paint tins before recycling. If your tin still contains liquid, mix with sawdust, soil, or sand to dry before recycling.
*Chemicals: like weedkiller, turpentine, rat poison etc must be in their original, labelled container, sealed tight. Please hand over any of these items to one of our attendants. They will secure the items so please do not just leave them by the skips or on the ground.
What you cannot bring to our centres
- Sharps cannot be recycled at our sites. To dispose of these, either speak to your GP about locations, or speak to your nearest pharmacy. Never put sharps and needles in general waste bags
- Fireworks, firearms, or ammunition cannot be recycled at our sites. To dispose of these speak to your local Fire Service. Guidance on safe disposal of fireworks may be available from the retailer or manufacturer of the firework
- Waste chemicals and by-products, not in their original packaging, are not accepted at our sites Consult manufacturers for disposal information
- Animal waste is not accepted at our sites
- Commercial or trade waste is not accepted at our sites
- General vehicle parts are not accepted
Disposing of commercial or trade waste at our HWRCs is an offence. Anyone found doing so will either:
- Be issued a fixed penalty between £400 and £700
- Be prosecuted, with no limit to the fine issued