Household waste and recycling centres
Due to the high number of cases in our region, please continue to carry out social distancing at our household waste and recycling centres to help protect other members of the public and site staff.
To protect the safety of our staff and our residents, there are still certain restrictions in place:
- anyone in self isolation or with COVID-19 symptoms must not visit under any circumstances
- if your household has had Covid-19 symptoms the waste should be left for 72 hours before being brought to site, and the waste should be double bagged
- follow the odd and even car number plate system to access the site to help manage traffic and reduce queuing
- cars with trailers, eligible 4x4 vehicles with trailers, vans and pick up vehicles will require a permit. The new system means these can be scanned on a mobile phone. When you arrive at the centre, you should show your permit through your vehicle window so it can be scanned by site staff
- social distancing at 2 metres is still advised and staff cannot assist the public in unloading
- only one person can leave the vehicle while on site, unless the item is heavy then one other adult from the same household can help
- proof of address may be required, please display in car windscreen
- you should wash your hands before and after visiting sites and avoid touching your face
Before travelling to a household waste and recycling centre, you should consider:
- storing items at home
- making use of retailer take-back services
- giving away items on reuse websites such as Freecycle and Freegle or on local social media groups
- checking the Reuse Network to see if small businesses or charities in your area can mend or repurpose your furniture and appliances instead
- using a private registered waste collection company, although there will be a cost if you do this and you should make sure the person collecting your waste is on the Environment Agency register
Opening times
Both of our recycling centres are open seven days a week, all year round excluding Christmas Day.
Current opening hours are 9am to 6pm every day.
Campground household waste and recycling centre, Wrekenton
Springwell Road, Wrekenton, Gateshead NE9 7XW
Cowen Road household waste and recycling centre, Blaydon
Cowen Road, Blaydon, Gateshead NE21 5TW
What waste you can bring
- bagged general household waste
- garden waste
- cardboard
- wood
- bulky waste such as old furniture
- small domestic appliances which do not need help from staff to be lifted, for example vacuum cleaners, toasters, kettles, microwaves, lawnmowers
- televisions and computers
- batteries - these can cause fires and need to be disposed of in the dedicated battery recycling bins or electricals in the correct containers. Ask a Site attendant if not sure. They should not be placed in the general waste skip.
- small fridges
- metals
- soil
- rubble (up to 6 bin bags)
- plasterboard (limit of 5 bags or 3 sheets)
- large electrical appliances, for example ovens
- fluorescent tubes
- engine and vegetable oil
- textiles
- tyres (up to 4 tyres)
- household recycling for example plastic, cans, glass, papers
Odd and even number plate system
We expect our recycling centres will be extremely busy. We are temporarily introducing an odd and even number plate system to help us manage traffic and reduce queuing. This means you can only visit the recycling centres on certain days depending on your vehicle number plate.
How it works
If the last number of your vehicle number plate is 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 this is an even number plate.
Examples of even number plates:
RL34 JGS
The last number is 4.
V952 GHD
The last number is 2.
PRIV8 A0
The last number is 0.
If the last number of your vehicle number plate is 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 this is an odd number plate.
Examples of odd number plates:
GJ25 HJK
The last number is 5.
Y247 NJF
The last number is 7.
PRIV8 A3
The last number is 3.
Please only visit on the day indicated below.
| Date | Vehicle number plates |
|---|---|
| Monday 13 September | Odd |
| Tuesday 14 September | Even |
| Wednesday 15 September | Odd |
| Thursday 16 September | Even |
| Friday 17 September | Odd |
| Saturday 18 September | Even |
| Sunday 19 September | Odd |
| Monday 20 September | Even |
| Tuesday 21 September | Odd |
| Wednesday 22 September | Even |
| Thursday 23 September | Odd |
| Friday 24 September | Even |
| Saturday 25 September | Odd |
| Sunday 26 September | Even |
| Monday 27 September | Odd |
| Tuesday 28 September | Even |
| Wednesday 29 September | Odd |
| Thursday 30 September | Even |
| Friday 1 October | Odd |
| Saturday 2 October | Even |
| Sunday 3 October | Odd |