Quick answer
Check the opening times and whether you need to book before you load the car. Household rubbish, garden waste and most recycling are usually free, DIY waste such as rubble and plasterboard is often charged, and vans may need a permit. If you have no van or a big load in Brighton, a collection can be simpler.
Whitehawk
Nearest site
Run by Brighton & Hove City Council; a second site is in Hove
Proof of address
Who can use it
Brighton & Hove residents; ID may be checked
No box vans
Vans and trailers
No trailers at Whitehawk; Hove takes trailers up to 1.2m
Limits apply
DIY waste
Four sheets of plasterboard; eight rubble bags a month
Where the Brighton tip isSection titled Where%20the%20Brighton%20tip%20is
Brighton & Hove City Council runs two household waste recycling sites, as listed on its household waste recycling sites page. The Brighton site is at Whitehawk, off Wilson Avenue, BN2 5PA, and for most Brighton addresses it is the nearest.
The other site is the Hove site at Modbury Way, off Old Shoreham Road, between Aldrington Avenue and Leighton Road, BN3 7AE. The council asks visitors to queue only on the smaller access roads, not the main approach roads.
Opening timesSection titled Opening%20times
| Site | Monday to Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Bank holidays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton (Whitehawk) | 8am to 4.30pm | 9am to 5pm | 9am to 5pm | 9am to 5pm |
| Hove (Modbury Way) | 8am to 4.30pm | 8.30am to 1.30pm | 10.30am to 1.30pm | Closed |
These times are taken from the council's household waste recycling sites page. The council says it may close the main gates up to 45 minutes before the published closing time to clear queuing vehicles, so do not arrive at the last minute. Times can change, especially over Christmas and New Year, so recheck the page before you go.
Do you need to book?Section titled Do%20you%20need%20to%20book%3F
The council's pages on how to access the sites and what you can and can't take do not mention a booking system. Rules can change, so confirm on the council's access page before you travel.
Vans, trailers and permitsSection titled Vans%2C%20trailers%20and%20permits
The council's access page sets out who can use the sites:
- Cars: you may be asked for a photo ID driving licence showing your Brighton & Hove address, plus a matching proof of residency dated within the last three months, such as a bank statement, council tax bill, tenancy or mortgage agreement or utility bill.
- Vans: drivers must provide proof of a Brighton & Hove address with two forms of ID. For a hired van you need to show the rental agreement, and the van must meet the size restrictions.
- Trailers: trailers up to 1.2m (4ft) can use the Hove site during normal opening hours. Trailers are not allowed at the Brighton site at any time.
- Not allowed: vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 3500kg or above, Luton or box-bodied vans, flatbed, tipper or dropside bodies, trailers longer than 1.2m, and commercial vehicles with business names on the side.
- Passengers: anyone helping with the waste must come with you and bring ID, including proof they live in the city.
- Pedestrians: pedestrians can use the Hove site during normal opening hours but cannot use the Brighton site.
The page does not mention a permit scheme or a limit on visits per year.
What you can take for freeSection titled What%20you%20can%20take%20for%20free
The council's list of what you can take includes:
- Paper, glass, cans, cardboard, plastic bottles, cartons, textiles, books and mattresses
- Hard plastics, wheelie bins, compost bins and water butts
- Electricals, including TVs, washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and freezers
- General garden waste, timber, MDF and wood composites, and scrap metal
- Engine oil, paint, vegetable oil and household batteries
- Plasterboard, limited to four sheets
- Hardcore, rubble, ceramics and soil, limited to eight standard rubble bags a month, with a maximum bag size of 50 litres
- Bonded asbestos at the Hove site only, up to four bags wrapped thoroughly twice in plastic, with two pieces of ID (one photo, one proving you live in the city)
What the tip charges forSection titled What%20the%20tip%20charges%20for
The council's what you can and can't take page does not list any charges, so we have not quoted a price list. DIY waste is instead limited: four sheets of plasterboard and eight standard rubble bags a month. Council prices and rules change, so recheck the official page before you load the car.
What the tip will not takeSection titled What%20the%20tip%20will%20not%20take
- Builder's waste from a trader or commercial building company, even if it comes from a home
- Any waste from a business or trade
- Petrol and diesel
- Large amounts of asbestos, which need a registered waste carrier, and any asbestos at the Brighton site
- Fireworks
- Japanese knotweed, three cornered leek and ragwort, where the council points to Environment Agency guidance rather than accepting them
When it is easier to have it collectedSection titled When%20it%20is%20easier%20to%20have%20it%20collected
A collection tends to beat a tip run when you have no suitable vehicle, a box van or trailer the sites do not allow, a load above the plasterboard and rubble limits, heavy furniture or a whole room to clear. Brighton Rubbish Removal loads from anywhere on the property and takes mixed waste in one visit.
No van, no booking slot?
We collect mixed household rubbish, furniture and garden waste across Brighton, loaded from anywhere on the property, usually the same week.
Tip run or collection?
A few bags or small items and a car
Tip runTake photo ID and proof of address, and check the opening times first.
You need a van or trailer for it
Private collectionBox vans and large trailers are not allowed, and trailers cannot use the Brighton site.
Rubble, plasterboard or other DIY waste
Private collection for large amountsThe tip limits plasterboard to four sheets and rubble to eight bags a month.
Heavy furniture, a full room or no time
Private collectionOne visit covers loading, transport and disposal.
Common questionsSection titled Common%20questions
Can I use the tip if I do not live in Brighton and Hove?Section titled Can%20I%20use%20the%20tip%20if%20I%20do%20not%20live%20in%20Brighton%20and%20Hove%3F
The council's access page asks for proof of a Brighton & Hove address, so the sites are set up for city residents. It also says it is illegal to tip trade or business waste there.
Can I take garden waste or rubble from a DIY job?Section titled Can%20I%20take%20garden%20waste%20or%20rubble%20from%20a%20DIY%20job%3F
General garden waste is on the council's accepted list. Rubble, ceramics and soil are accepted up to eight standard rubble bags a month, each no larger than 50 litres. Work done by a trader or building company is refused, even at a home.
Is the tip open on bank holidays?Section titled Is%20the%20tip%20open%20on%20bank%20holidays%3F
According to the council's sites page, the Brighton site is open 9am to 5pm on bank holidays and the Hove site is closed. Christmas and New Year hours may differ, so check the page before travelling.
Related servicesSection titled Related%20services
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