Household waste and recycling centres

You need to book a time slot for each visit to our household waste and recycling centres. Gateshead Council will process the information you submit in accordance with our privacy notice.

Before travelling to our household waste and recycling centres

Consider alternative ways to dispose of your unwanted items. Giving away furniture and other items in good condition is more environmentally friendly.

​​​​​​​Find out more ways to reduce and reuse.

Please consider

• making use of retailer take-back services
• donating to local charities or not-for-profits such as Foundations Furniture (opens new window) or St Oswald's Hospice (opens new window)
• giving away items on reuse websites including Freecycle (opens new window), Freegle (opens new window) or in local social media groups
• checking the Reuse Network (opens new window) to see if small businesses or charities in your area can mend or repurpose your furniture and appliances instead
• listing items on online marketplace sites like eBay (opens new window), Gumtree (opens new window) or Facebook Marketplace (opens new window)

Visiting our household waste and recycling centres

You must make a booking for each visit you plan to make to our household waste and recycling centres. There is no limit on the number of bookings you can make, so you can multiple bookings if needed.

If you need support completing the online form, watch our how to book video. Bookings can also be made by contacting our Customer Services team on 0191 433 7000.

Appointments are available 2 weeks in advance.

You should arrive any time within your 30 minute time slot, you do not have to arrive at the beginning of the slot. If you arrive early before your time slot, you may be asked to leave and return during your time slot.

As the 30 minute time slot is for your arrival only, you can continue unloading your vehicle after your time slot has ended if needed. We reserve the right to refuse entry if you arrive outside of your allocated time. If you arrive a little early or late, we may be able to let you in if there is space for your vehicle to be unloaded safely. If the site is busy you may be asked to leave and return during your booked time slot - or you may be asked to rebook if you are late. 

Please show your booking reference email on entry to the household waste and recycling centre. You can show it to staff on your mobile phone through your vehicle window, or you can print it out if you don't have a mobile device. Site attendants will be also be able to find and confirm your booking using your vehicle registration if you do not have a mobile device or printer. You should also show your waste permit if your vehicle requires one.

View more information about the new system on our bookings information page.

You may be asked to show proof of address to verify your booking and confirm you live in Gateshead or Sunderland. Our household waste and recycling centres are only open to Gateshead and Sunderland residents (Sunderland residents can use Campground only). 

Please be aware there is a height barrier at the entrance of campground HWRC, and vehicles must be under 2.3 metres to access this recycling centre. Please ask the site attendant to open the barrier if your vehicle is over this height.

Changing your appointment 

To cancel or amend your booking you can follow the link in your confirmation email, or call our Customer Services team.

Opening times

Both of our recycling centres are open seven days a week, all year round excluding Christmas Day.

Monday to Sunday- 9am to 6pm.

The final slot of each day is reserved for cars, motorcycles and bikes only.

Campground household waste and recycling centre, Wrekenton

Springwell Road, Wrekenton, Gateshead NE9 7XW

Get directions (opens new window)

Cowen Road household waste and recycling centre, Blaydon

Cowen Road, Blaydon, Gateshead NE21 5TW

Get directions (opens new window)

What waste you can bring

• batteries and vapes - these can cause fires and need to be disposed of in the dedicated battery / vape recycling boxes or bins. Please also remove batteries from electrical appliances and put them in the dedicated battery bins. They should not be put in the general-waste skip. Please ask a site attendant if you are unsure
• bagged general household waste
• garden waste
• cardboard 
• wood
• bulky waste such as old furniture or bathroom suites
• electricals such as: 
  • small domestic appliances, for example vacuum cleaners, toasters, kettles, microwaves, lawnmowers
  • large domestic appliances, for example ovens and washing machines
  • televisions and computers
  • domestic fridges and freezers
• metals
• soil
• rubble (up to 6 bin bags)
• tiles - ceramic/porcelain (up to 6 bin bags)
• plasterboard (limit of 5 bags or 3 sheets)
• fluorescent tubes
• engine and vegetable oil
• textiles including carpet or rugs
• tyres (up to 4 tyres)
• household recycling for example plastic, cans, glass, papers and cardboard

View our ​​​​​​​A to Z of recycling for more details about what can be recycled at our household waste and recycling centres.

Waste and Recycling Visitor and Education Centre

Find out about our hub for recycling education, and engagement programmes, including a range of waste awareness and reduce, reuse and recycling activities.