Visit a Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) with a van, pick-up or trailer
You need a permit to dispose of household waste in a van, pick-up or trailer at any Hampshire HWRC. The permit is issued digitally and will incur a £20 administration fee.
The permit is valid for one vehicle for up to 12 visits or 12 months, whichever comes first. The permit is valid at all Hampshire HWRCs, including Southampton (City Depot and Recycling Park) and Portsmouth HWRCs.
If you need to dispose of commercial or trade waste, use our trade waste service.
Who can apply
Residents of Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth can apply for a permit. The permit can be used at:
How to use the permit
When you book your appointment, select the correct vehicle type for your permit. The system will recognise if there is a valid permit for the vehicle registration number you enter. You must visit the site in the vehicle you book. If you booked using a digital permit, you do not need to show documentation as proof of permit on entry to the HWRC.
If you have a trailer permit issued before 24 February 2026, you will need to show your paper permit to the site staff on arrival.
Visiting more than once a day
Each visit counts separately. If you visit a HWRC twice in one day, this will count as two visits.
After using all your visits
Once you have made 12 visits, you will not be able to book further appointments for the vehicle.
If you need more visits, apply for a new permit. You will be charged a £20 administration fee.
You can only apply for two permits per year, allowing 24 visits in total.
Paper permits issued before 24 February 2026
Paper permits for trailers
If you have a paper permit for a trailer that has remaining unused visits and has not expired, show your paper permit to the site staff on arrival.
Paper permits for vans and pick-ups
If you have a paper permit for a van or pick-up that has not expired, you now have a digital permit. You do not need to show any documentation on entry to the HWRC. The booking system will automatically recognise if there is a valid permit for your vehicle registration.
About the permit scheme
HWRCs are for the disposal of household waste. Your council tax pays for this service. You can visit in a car for free to dispose of your household waste.
Commercial and trade waste is costed and handled separately through the trade waste service.
If you need to use a van, pick-up or large trailer to dispose of household waste, the permit allows site staff to confirm you are not incorrectly disposing of trade waste. This reduces the burden on the council taxpayer. A £20 administration fee applies for all permit applications. This covers the cost of maintaining and upholding the permit scheme.