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Household Recycling Centre e-permits

From 24 February 2025, all Peterborough residents will need to have a vehicle e-permit before visiting the Fengate Household Recycling Centre (HRC).

You can apply for a vehicle e-permit from 5 February 2025. It is free and only takes a few minutes to apply.

You do not need an e-permit if you visit on foot or by bicycle, but we will require proof of address.

There are two permit types available:

  • A car e-permit
  • A van or trailer e-permit
Vehicle type Number of visits allowed How long e-permit is valid for How many e-permits per household Cost of e-permit
Car No limit Three years One Free
Van / trailer 12 visits in one year One year One Free

Please note:

  • You can only have one vehicle on an e-permit at any one time. If your household has more than one car, you can transfer the e-permit to another car by editing the vehicle details in your online e-permit account.

  • If you have a car and a trailer you wish to use for disposing of waste, you will need a separate permit for each. A car e-permit and a trailer e-permit. You can use your car to visit the HRC as many times as you like, but when you use the trailer you can only make 12 visits in one year.

  • If you already have a van or trailer e-permit, but wish to visit the HRC in a car, you will need to apply for a separate car e-permit.

After you apply for your vehicle e-permit, it will be instantly available for you to use. A unique permit number is allocated against your vehicle registration number and address. You will receive confirmation details via the email address you have provided.

As the permit is electronic, you do not need to print or display anything in your vehicle.

When you arrive at the Household Recycling Centre, our site staff will have handheld devices to use. Your vehicle registration number will be scanned to check an e-permit is in place. Site staff will also log that you have made a visit.

You will need to provide proof of address on your first visit to enable our staff to confirm residency.

Vehicle size restrictions

We allow entry of vehicles that are no larger than a long wheel base transit type van (typically 5.7 metres long, 2.6 metres high).

We do not allow entry to:

  • Luton type box vans
  • Extra long wheel base vans
  • Horse boxes
  • Caravans
  • Large flatbeds
  • Trailer beds over 8 feet 6 inches (2.5 metres) in length

Our staff reserve the right to refuse entry to any vehicle which presents a risk to safety on the site, at any time.

Apply online for an e-permit

To apply online for your free e-permit, you will need:

  • An email address
  • The vehicle registration number

Please note:

  • After applying online, your e-permit is available instantly, so you can visit the HRC on the same day.

  • On your first visit after applying for an e-permit, you will need to bring proof of address with you. For example, your driving licence or a utility bill etc. This is to verify your e-permit. Our site staff will cross-check the proof document with your e-permit application.

Change or cancel your e-permit

Help if you can't apply online

Please call our Customer Services Team on 01733 747474 if you can't apply online for an HRC e-permit. The phone line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).

Our HRC site staff can also help you to apply in-person if needed. Please take proof of address with you.

Further information

We have operated an e-permit scheme for vans and trailers for a number of years. We are now extending this scheme to cover all vehicles.

This measure aims to reduce usage of the Fengate Household Recycling Centre by residents from outside the Peterborough City Council area. Residents in other council areas do not pay council tax to Peterborough and therefore do not fund the running of the Household Recycling Centre or the disposal of the waste they bring.

You must have an e-permit in place to visit the Household Recycling Centre (HRC).

If you arrive at the HRC and you don't have an e-permit, our site staff will help you to apply there and then if you have proof of address with you.

Otherwise you will have to leave the HRC and return when:

  • You have applied online for an e-permit
  • You have brought proof of address with you to the HRC for help with applying from site staff

Residents from outside the Peterborough City Council area will need to visit the Household Recycling Centre(s) in their own council area to dispose of their own household waste. 

There are exceptions if a resident from another council area is disposing of waste from a property within the Peterborough City Council area on behalf of a relative or friend. Please see the other drop-down boxes on this page for different scenarios.

You still need an e-permit to visit the Household Recycling Centre. If the waste is coming from a Peterborough property, the resident should apply for the e-permit at this address and with the driver’s name.

You still need an e-permit to visit the Household Recycling Centre. If the waste is coming from a Peterborough property, you should apply for the e-permit at this address and with the driver’s name.

You can apply for an e-permit for a hire vehicle in the same way you would your own vehicle. There are options on the online form for this. You will need to provide details of the hire car's vehicle registration number and the hire company.

We allow tradespeople to use their trade vehicles to enter the Household Recycling Centre but only if disposing of their own household waste. Our site staff will check this when you arrive.

We do not accept trade waste at the Household Recycling Centre.

We do not allow access to the Household Recycling Centre to the following vehicles:

  • Luton type box vans
  • Extra long wheel base vans
  • Horse boxes
  • Caravans
  • Large flatbeds
  • Trailer beds over 8 feet 6 inches (2.5 metres) in length

If one of the above vehicles is your only vehicle, you would have to borrow or hire an alternative vehicle and apply for an e-permit for it.

We can cancel the previous occupant’s e-permit. You must provide us with proof that you live at the address, such as your driving licence, a utility bill etc. 

Email: recycling@peterborough.gov.uk

We can remove the vehicle from its previous owner’s e-permit. You must provide us with proof of vehicle ownership. 

Email: recycling@peterborough.gov.uk

Published: 05 February 2025