Visiting our household waste recycling sites - site rules and policies
Introduction
Our recycling sites (tips) only accept general household waste and recycling from people who live in East Sussex. Check what type of waste is accepted at your local tip.
You don't need to book a visit until 24 November 2025.
Book a visit to the tip (starts 24 November)
From 24 November 2025, you must book a time slot to visit any household waste recycling site in East Sussex.
Making a booking
Residents can book up to two weeks ahead. It is possible to book on the same day if a slot is available.
The easiest way will be to book online. Most slots are 30 minutes. Some sites have 15-minute slots. You can make an online account to save time entering your details every time you book.
Residents who need help with making a booking can speak to our contact centre by calling 0345 60 80 194. The contact centre is open 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and 08.30am to 4.30pm on Friday.
The earliest a booking can be made online or through the contact centre is two weeks in advance.
There is no limit on the number of bookings you can make. We will monitor this to make sure it is being used fairly and can limit the number of bookings if needed.
Arriving at a recycling site
You can arrive at any time within your booked slot. You must show:
- your booking confirmation
- identification for proof of residency
Site staff may ask you to wait while they empty the waste containers. Customers are not allowed on site while this is happening. Your booking will still be valid and you can tip your waste as soon as they have finished.
If you are late, staff will try to help. You may be turned away if the next slot is fully booked, or if the site is about to close.
Proof you live in East Sussex
Our recycling sites are free to use for East Sussex residents. You must live in East Sussex and pay Council Tax to Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother, or Wealden councils. Some residents in those areas are exempt from the tax.
You may be asked to show that you live in East Sussex by presenting one form of current identification from the list below:
- photocard driving licence (preferred option) or paper licence
- Council Tax bill for the current year
- utility bill (less than 1 year old)
- bank or credit card statement (less than 1 year old)
- tenancy agreement if you live in rented accommodation
- an official letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or from HM Revenue and Customs (less than 1 year old)
- East Sussex older person’s bus pass
- East Sussex disabled parking permit (known as a Blue Badge)
People who live outside East Sussex
If you do not live in East Sussex, you must pay £8.75 each time you visit our sites to dispose of household waste. This is why we ask for proof of residency.
When you book, choose the option saying you are not an East Sussex resident.
Payment is by card only. Pay when you arrive at the site.
We will waive this fee if you are not local but are disposing of waste from an East Sussex resident that you are helping, such as family or a friend. Please see our policy on booking on behalf of family and friends.
Cancel or amend a booking
We encourage you to cancel or amend your booking if you are unable to attend. This helps others use the slot.
- Use the links in your confirmation email to cancel or amend your booking.
- To change your vehicle number plate, you must cancel and make a new booking.
If you repeatedly book slots but do not show up, we may restrict your ability to book future visits. This is to ensure availability for other customers.
In rare circumstances, a booking may be cancelled if a site has to unexpectedly close due to an operational incident or extreme weather. We will contact you so you can rebook your visit.
Van bookings
Please choose ‘van’ as your vehicle type when you make a booking.
Vans can only visit on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The booking system will not let you book a van on any other day.
Customers will be turned away if you book as a car user and arrive in a van.
Check the permitted types of vans and height limits in our vehicle restrictions.
Hired vehicle bookings
If you know the number plate on your hired vehicle at the time of booking, please enter it after choosing 'car' or 'van' from the vehicle type options.
If you don’t know the registration, please choose ‘hire vehicle’ instead.
You will need to bring a copy of your hire agreement.
See our vehicle restrictions.
Pedestrian and cyclist bookings
Customers are required to book if arriving on foot or by bicycle. Only some recycling sites allow access using these forms of transport.
Please choose 'pedestrian' or 'cyclist' as your vehicle type.
Check which sites allow access and which entrance to use - see pedestrians and cyclists.
Taxi bookings
You can book a visit using a taxi. You must accompany your waste in the taxi to the recycling site.
Bring proof of residency and your booking confirmation with you
As you won’t know the number plate when you book, please choose 'taxi' as your vehicle type.
Booking on behalf of family and friends
You can book a visit on behalf of family and friends if:
- they are an East Sussex resident
- you are helping them because they don’t own a car or van
- they need assistance or are not physically able to make the trip themselves
- they cannot make the booking themselves online or by phone
- you are disposing of items that belonged to a family member or friend who died
Make sure:
- the booking uses the number plate for the vehicle that will bring waste to the recycling site
- the driver's name is on the booking
- the address is for the person where the waste came from
- you bring proof of residency for the person who the waste belongs to
- you bring your booking confirmation and own ID to show on arrival
Charges usually apply if the driver is not an East Sussex resident, as stated in our policy for people who live outside East Sussex. We will waive this fee if you are disposing of waste from an East Sussex resident.
Visiting a reuse shop
You must book a slot to visit the reuse shop at all sites except Eastbourne. If you book to visit the recycling site, you can also visit the shop during that time.
Eastbourne's shop has a separate entrance. You can enter the shop without going to the recycling site. You must book if you plan to dispose of waste as well as visiting the Eastbourne shop.
Read more about our reuse shops and how to pay.
Charity permit holders
East Sussex charity permit holders are required to book a slot to use a household waste recycling site to dispose of waste. Choose the option on the booking form to say you are a charity.
Some charity permit holders are authorised to tip waste at a waste transfer station instead of public recycling sites. It will say on the permit letter if this is the case. Charities are not required to book a visit to a waste transfer station.
Holiday homes and caravans
Holiday home and caravan owners may use our recycling sites if they pay Council Tax to Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother, or Wealden councils. This includes residents in those areas who are exempt from the tax.
Holiday home and caravan users who are not East Sussex residents should use the waste facilities at your property or campsite.
Foreign registered cars
We do not accept bookings from customers using foreign-registered vehicles.
This is because they vehicle registration cannot be checked on the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) database.
How we use your data
Please check this page after 10 November 2025 to see the privacy notice explaining how we will use customer data gathered from the booking system.
Vehicles and pedestrian access at each site
Cars are allowed at all tips during opening hours.
Restrictions apply to other vehicles, including vans, trailers, cyclists. There are limits on access for pedestrians.
Van restrictions
All vans are only permitted to use our recycling sites on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This includes hired vans.
Van drivers must bring photo ID (for example a driving licence) and one other form of ID such as a recent utility or Council Tax bill that contains your home address.
Vans must not be:
- 3,500kg or heavier in gross vehicle weight
- Luton, flatbed, tipper, cage or box style vehicles
- work vans where the waste matches the business (such as garden waste in a landscaping van)
These rules are to stop work vans with business waste coming to our sites. The recycling sites are too small to fit these vans safely.
It is illegal to tip any trade or business waste at our sites. People with this waste should go to a licensed commercial waste facility. This includes:
- businesses
- tradespeople (such as plumbers and electricians)
- professional gardeners
- landlords
Vans are subject to trade waste checks to ask where your rubbish came from. We record details in line with our van users privacy notice.
Vehicle height restrictions
All recycling sites have height restriction barriers of 2 metres. The barrier will only open for tall vehicles on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The only exception is for Blue Badge holders. If their vehicle is over 2 metres, they can visit any site on any day (except Eastbourne). They must show their Blue Badge on arrival.
Trailers
Trailers are permitted at all sites but have limits on the length of the trailer. Measurements do not include the tow bar.
On three days a week, extended trailers are allowed at Eastbourne, Hastings and Maresfield.
| Recycling site | Friday to Monday maximum length | Tuesday to Thursday maximum length (extended) |
|---|---|---|
| Crowborough | 1.8 metres | 1.8 metres |
| Eastbourne | 1.8 metres | 2.4 metres |
| Hailsham | 1.2 metres | 1.2 metres |
| Hastings | 1.2 metres | 1.8 metres |
| Heathfield | 1.8 metres | 1.8 metres |
| Lewes | 1.8 metres | 1.8 metres |
| Maresfield | 1.2 metres | 1.8 metres |
| Mountfield | 1.2 metres | 1.2 metres |
| Newhaven | 1.8 metres | 1.8 metres |
| Seaford | 1.8 metres | 1.8 metres |
Pedestrians and cyclists
Some recycling sites allow residents to arrive on foot or by bicycle.
Some sites have a pedestrian entrance. Other sites are entered by walking through the main vehicle entrance. Cyclists should dismount before entering the site.
Access is restricted at:
- Hastings, Heathfield, or Mountfield - no pedestrian or cyclist access due to site layout
- Lewes - cyclists are allowed but pedestrians are not, because the road to the site doesn’t have a pavement
It is not permitted to park outside the site and bring waste into the site on foot.
| Recycling site | Pedestrians | Cyclists |
|---|---|---|
| Crowborough | Use pedestrian entrance | Use pedestrian entrance |
| Eastbourne | Use pedestrian entrance | Use pedestrian entrance |
| Hailsham | Use main entrance | Use main entrance |
| Hastings | Pedestrians not allowed | Cyclists not allowed |
| Heathfield | Pedestrians not allowed | Cyclists not allowed |
| Lewes | Pedestrians not allowed | Use main entrance |
| Maresfield | Use main entrance | Use main entrance |
| Mountfield | Pedestrians not allowed | Cyclists not allowed |
| Newhaven | Use pedestrian entrance to reach the bin area for pedestrians | Use pedestrian entrance to reach the bin area for pedestrians |
| Seaford | Use pedestrian entrance | Use pedestrian entrance |
Charges for DIY waste and tyres
Charges apply to hardcore/rubble, soil, plasterboard, bonded asbestos and tyres. Some of these have a free allowance before you must pay.
See the terms and conditions below for full details about how to pay.
Hardcore/rubble, soil, plasterboard
Hardcore is DIY waste including rubble, stonework, bricks, rock, clay, sand, gravel, tarmac, concrete, paving slabs, tiles, ceramic bathroom fittings and more.
- All recycling sites accept hardcore and soil
- Plasterboard is only accepted at Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hastings, Newhaven
| Material | Free allowance per week (Monday to Sunday) | Charges for items over free allowance |
|---|---|---|
|
Hardcore/ rubble |
Up to two 50-litre bags or one item | £6.30 per bag or item |
| Soil | Up to two 50-litre bags | £6.30 per bag |
| Plasterboard | Up to two 50-litre bags or one sheet (1800 x 900 mm) | £6.30 per bag or sheet |
Bonded asbestos and tyres
You must pay for all bonded asbestos and tyres. There is a maximum limit on these items per calendar month.
- Bonded asbestos is only accepted at Eastbourne, Hastings, Heathfield, Newhaven
- Tyres are only accepted at Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Maresfield, Newhaven
| Material | Maximum number per month | Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Bonded asbestos | 6 bags or 4 sheets | £7.70 per bag or sheet |
| Tyres | 4 tyres | £2.60 per tyre |
General terms and conditions
- Card payments only.
- Do not mix different waste types together.
- There are free weekly allowances for hardcore, soil and plasterboard. A week is Monday to Sunday. Extra waste must be paid for.
- There is no free allowance for asbestos and tyres. Monthly limits apply.
- Multiple part filled bags will be combined and rounded up to full bags. For example, five half-filled bags count as two bags free and one full bag charged for.
- For loose loads, an equivalent number of bags will be estimated by site staff.
- Part sheets of plasterboard will be rounded up for the free allowance and charges over the limit.
- There is no charge for ceramic crockery, flowerpots and bicycle tyres.
- We will turn you away if you try to visit different sites in the same week.
- Construction and demolition waste from businesses and commercial premises is strictly prohibited at our household waste recycling sites.
- Site staff’s decision is final.
Asbestos terms and conditions
- Only bonded asbestos is accepted.
- Asbestos must be double bagged and sealed, or wrapped in plastic and sealed.
- Do not break asbestos up yourself because it will release harmful fibres into the atmosphere.
- Asbestos tanks are not accepted.
- We will record your name, address and vehicle registration. This is to stop trade waste and monitor usage of the service.
- We recommend you use a licensed asbestos removal contractor to safely remove and dispose of asbestos from your property. The Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) has a list of licenced contractors.
- The Health and Safety Executive has more guidance about safe handling of asbestos.
Health and safety advice
The majority of accidents at our recycling sites involve people cutting themselves on their waste and recycling or falling over. Cars and vehicles are another danger.
Help prevent accidents by following these simple instructions:
- wear sturdy gloves to protect your hands
- wear suitable footwear to protect your feet
- carefully dispose of your waste and recycling
- children and animals must not be outside of vehicles
- be aware of pedestrians and vehicles at all times
- stay on pedestrian walkways when out of your vehicle
- always reverse park into a bay
- keep to the speed limit and traffic signs
- fill your waste in liftable bags or containers
- don't use bags that are too heavy to lift - put the waste into smaller bags or containers
- always follow staff instructions
Asking for assistance
Please ask staff when you arrive if you have a mobility problem and need assistance. We will take your items and transfer them to the correct bins for you if required.
Fair usage of our recycling sites
We will take action if our recycling sites are misused.
Verbal and physical abuse
Please treat the Veolia site staff with respect and follow the site rules. We take verbal and physical abuse of site staff very seriously and won't hesitate to ban people who act this way. Site staff wear body cameras. We will also share this footage with the police so they can take further action.
Fly-tipping
We deal robustly with people who fly-tip waste at our recycling sites or outside the entrance. In the past, this has resulted in fines (fixed penalty notices) being issued.
Trade waste
Trade waste is strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to refuse entry to customers that bring trade waste to our recycling sites. We may restrict their ability to use our waste services. Enforcement action may include fixed penalty notices and prosecution.
Health and safety
We reserve the right to ask you to leave and to refuse you entry if you act in a way that endangers the health and safety of other customers, site staff and yourself.
See our guidance on how to prevent accidents at our recycling sites.
Not paying for services
We charge money to get rid of some building waste. If someone refuses to pay, or tries to hide rubbish that should be charged for, we will take action to get the money back.
If a customer leaves without paying, they might not be allowed into our sites again.
