Household waste and recycling centres

Before booking

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

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)

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

How to book

Book online below. You can book as many time slots as you need. 

They're available up to two weeks in advance. 

If you need a permit for your vehicle to visit the household waste and recycling centre, apply for your permit before booking your time slot.  

If you provide an email address when booking, you'll receive a confirmation email.

We will process the information you submit in accordance with our privacy notice.

There is a height barrier at the entrance of Campground HWRC. Vehicles must be under 2.3 metres to access this recycling centre. Ask the site attendant to open the barrier if your vehicle is over this height.

Change your booking

Use 'Manage my booking' option to cancel. You can also change your vehicle details if needed.

Customers without an email address can contact us to amend or cancel. 

If you can't attend your time slot, you should cancel so somebody else can book in instead. 

Visiting our household waste and recycling centres   

If you provided an email address you'll receive a booking reference email, show this on arrival. If you don't have a mobile device the site attendants can find and confirm your booking using your name and vehicle registration. 

If you are using a bike, we'll be able to find your booking using your name.

Site attendants may ask for your driving licence or proof of address to verify your booking and confirm you live in Gateshead or Sunderland.

• Cowan Road is open to Gateshead residents only.
• Campground is open to both Gateshead and Sunderland residents.  

You can arrive any time during your 30 minute time slot. If you arrive out of your allocated time slot and the site is busy you may be asked to leave and return during your booked time slot,. If you are late you may be asked to rebook. 

If your time slot is later in the day, you should arrive as early as possible at the beginning of your time slot so you have enough time to unload and leave the site by closing time. 

You can continue unloading your items after the end of your time slot if needed.

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.

Directions

Campground household waste and recycling centre 
Springwell Road
Wrekenton
Gateshead
E9 7XW

Get directions (opens new window)

Cowen Road household waste and recycling centre
Cowen Road
Blaydon
Gateshead
NE21 5TW

Get directions (opens new window)

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. Remove batteries from electrical appliances and put them in the dedicated battery bins. They should not be put in the general-waste skip. 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 per visit)
• tiles - ceramic/porcelain (up to 6 bin bags per visit)
• plasterboard (limit of 5 bags or 3 sheets per visit)
• fluorescent tubes
• engine and vegetable oil
• textiles including carpet or rugs
• tyres (up to 4 tyres per visit)
• 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.