Recycling centres (tips)
Your local household waste recycling centre (HWRC) or tip, is the place to recycle and dispose of household waste.
Find your nearest tip by using our My Durham search at the top of this page. Enter your house name or number and your postcode, and go to the My Area button.
- Recycling centres on a map
- Recycling centre opening times
- What can you dispose of at a HWRC?
- Do you need a permit?
Summer opening times are April to September. Winter opening times are October to March. All recycling centres are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Please allow yourself enough time to unload your waste before closing time of the site, otherwise you may be refused entry. If you've got a large load we advise you to get there at least 30 minutes before closing. Sorting your waste into material types before visiting the recycling centre may save you time at the site. Please note site staff will open bags to sort the waste.
Sites open every day
- Summer: 9.00am - 6.00pm
- Winter: 9.00am - 3.30pm
| Recycling centre | Address |
|---|---|
| Annfield Plain | Morrison Busty Industrial Estate, Annfield Plain DH9 7XW |
| Heighington | Heighington Lane, Newton Aycliffe DL5 6AP |
| Middleton-in-Teesdale | Highways Depot off B6277, Middleton-in-Teesdale DL12 0NG |
| Potterhouse Lane | Potterhouse Lane, Pity Me, Durham DH1 5RL |
| Romanway | Romanway Industrial Estate, Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland DL14 9AW |
| Seaham | Strangford Road, Seaham SR7 8QE |
| Stainton Grove | Stainton Grove Industrial Estate, DL12 8UH |
| Tudhoe | Tudhoe Industrial Estate, Spennymoor DL16 6TL |
Sites open every day except Friday
- Summer: Mon - Thurs 10.00am - 4.00pm, weekends and bank holidays 9.00am - 6.00pm
- Winter: Mon to Thurs 10.00am - 4.00pm, weekends and bank holidays 9.00am - 3.30pm
| Recycling centre | Address |
|---|---|
| Coxhoe | Coxhoe Quarry DH6 4RT |
| Horden | B1283 Sunderland Road, Peterlee SR8 3SX |
| Thornley | Thornley Crossings Industrial Estate, Salters Lane, Shotton Colliery DH6 2QA |
Sites open Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays only
- Summer: 9.00am- 6.00pm*
- Winter: 9.00am - 3.30pm
| Recycling centre | Address |
|---|---|
| Hett Hills | B6313 Chester-le-Street to Craghead, Chester-le-Street DH2 3JX Hett Hills will be daily from 9.00am-3.30pm between Monday 24 December and Sunday 6 January (excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day) to ease congestion at our other sites. |
Sites open alternate Saturdays only
You don't need a waste permit to use Frosterley Mobile Recycling Centre. See further information about Frosterley before your visit.
- 20 October
- 3, 17 November
- 1, 15 and 29 December
| Recycling centre | Address |
|---|---|
| Frosterley | Opposite Sherburn Stone Quarry, off A689 in Frosterley. |
What can you dispose of at a recycling centre?
Recycling centres are for household waste only. Please be aware that staff on site may ask you about the type and quantity of the waste you are disposing of, if they believe it may be trade waste. Download
Household Waste Recycling Centre information (PDF, 317.9kb)
to see a full list of what can be disposed of at each site. If you want to get rid of trade or commercial waste, please see Commercial and trade waste services we offer.
Please note: only wrapping paper and card without foil and glitter can be recycled at HWRCs.
Reuse shop at Stainton Grove
Stainton Grove has a reuse shop where the following items will be accepted:
- beds (no mattresses)
- carpets/rugs
- white goods
- electrical cookers
- toys
- soft toys with CE label
- tools
- DVDs/CDs
- books
- radios/music players
- bric-a-brac
- bicycles
- garden equipment
- clothes, bags, shoes and bedding
- small electrical appliances (except mobile phones, computer towers or laptops)
Do you need a permit?
Yes, there are some instances where you will need a permit.
Vehicles that need a permit to enter the recycling centre
Only certain types of vehicles can enter a recycling centre. Find out if your vehicle is ok and, if not, how to apply for a household waste permit through our waste permit scheme.
Disabled/elderly or infirm residents
Assistance is available upon request at all recycling centres to help you dispose of your waste. Upon arrival please remain in your vehicle and speak to a site operative to advise them that you need assistance.
Household hazardous waste
Chemicals and hazardous materials like paint, asbestos and bleach must be disposed of carefully. Find out more about household hazardous waste and how to apply for a hazardous waste permit.
Personal data
HWRCs do not offer secure data removal or confidentiality of data, therefore it is your responsibility to ensure your data is removed before depositing any item for recycling or reuse. Items include electronic and mobile devices as well as paper documents.
Business and landlord waste
It is against the law for waste from businesses and landlords to be disposed of at a recycling centre. The staff on site regularly monitor the type and quantity of residents' waste and anyone believed to be disposing of trade waste will be asked to provide further information.
Find out more about how you can dispose of your waste on our Commercial or trade waste collection and Waste from landlords pages.
Tips and information on reducing waste, resusing, recycling and composting
Like our Recycle for County Durham on Facebook page to get handy tips and information on reducing waste, reusing, recycling and composting.
- Customer Services
- 03000 26 0000
