HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING CENTRE E-PERMITS

Please find below some information on the resident only Household Recycling Centre (HRC) permit scheme. As part of the 2024/25 budget setting process the Peterborough City Council agreed to introduce a scheme to limit access to the HRC to Peterborough residents only.   To achieve this, we are expanding the existing electronic permitting system—currently used for vans and trailers—to include all vehicles.

Starting Monday, 24th February, the Household Recycling Centre (HRC) will be open exclusively to Peterborough residents. Residents can easily apply for a permit for their car online and this is live now, with the process taking just a few minutes. For more information or to apply please visit   Household Recycling Centre e-permits | Peterborough City Council

An extensive communications plan has been undertaken, this includes a video detailing how quick and easy the process for applying for an E permit is an includes will happen when residents arrive at the HRC. This video has been shared on social media and has received over 35,000 views, please feel free to share PCC’s posts on your own Social Media pages.

Vans and trailers have been required to apply for an electronic permit for several years and the system is very easy to use and successful in managing van and trailer usage at the HRC.  

The simple steps to apply for a car permit are detailed below:

1. To apply for a permit residents will be required to complete the following steps: Visit www.peterborough.gov.uk/hrc to apply for a permit by providing name, address, contact details and vehicle registration. Residents can also call Peterborough Direct should they not have internet access.

1. Once successfully submitted, the permit is issued immediately, and a unique permit number is allocated against the vehicle registration number and address. Residents will receive confirmation details of this via email.  

1. On arrival at the HRC, the vehicle registration will be taken by the site staff and using a handheld device they will retrieve the permit details. Residents should provide proof of address on the first visit to enable staff to confirm residency at this property. Site staff will confirm that proof has been provided, and as is currently the case with van/trailer permits a visit will be logged accordingly.

Resident only permitting schemes are already operating effectively in other local authorities. Rutland County Council has a similar permit system for their residents, Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City Councils both restricts site usage to prevent cross-boundary access. Due to non-residents of Herefordshire and Worcestershire using the Bromsgrove and Redditch Household Recycling Centres, proof of residency is now required to enter these sites in the Worcestershire County Council area demonstrating that Peterborough is not unique in addressing out of area use of recycling centres.  

We do not anticipate an impact on fly-tipping. A van/trailer permit system has been in place for several years, and investigations indicate that smaller traders, offering clearances at a lower cost than regulated businesses, lead to waste being given to unregistered waste carriers who may dispose of it illegally. These concerns are unlikely to be related to any changes in policy at the HRC.