Longley Lane HWRC: Opening Times, Booking, Waste Rules & Charges
Plan a successful trip to Longley Lane Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Sharston. Check today’s hours, understand the no-booking rule, confirm whether your van or trailer needs a permit, track annual visits, sort household and DIY waste and avoid mixing the public recycling centre with the separate commercial or asbestos entrance.
Do you need to book Longley Lane recycling centre?
No time-slot booking is required. Residents can visit during opening hours in a normal car, subject to household-waste and annual-visit rules.
A free permit is required if you use a van, hire van, pickup truck or twin-axle trailer. Create the permit account at least two working days before your first visit.
How to prepare for Longley Lane HWRC step by step
Complete these checks at home. They reduce queues, prevent permit problems and stop household recycling from being mistaken for business waste.
Confirm you are an eligible resident
The public centre is free for residents of Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford.
Read the official residency ruleChoose the correct vehicle route
Normal cars do not need a van permit. Vans, pickups, hire vans and twin-axle trailers require a free approved account.
Check vehicle and permit eligibilityConfirm the item is household waste
Waste created by a paid builder, gardener, landlord, business, charity or organisation is not normal household-centre waste.
Check trade-waste disposal rulesSeparate the load before driving
Group wood, metal, cardboard, appliances, batteries, garden waste, rubble, plasterboard and non-recyclable rubbish.
Search the official recycling A–ZCheck traffic and arrive with unloading time
The centre closes at 8pm. Do not arrive so late that staff cannot inspect, direct and safely unload the vehicle.
View current Longley Lane detailsLongley Lane recycling centre opening times today
The current public HWRC schedule is simple: 8am to 8pm every day. Special waste-transfer services at the same wider Longley Lane site can use different hours.
| Day | Opens | Closes | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8am | 8pm | Check traffic before travelling. |
| Tuesday | 8am | 8pm | Pre-sort specialist materials. |
| Wednesday | 8am | 8pm | Normal public HWRC hours. |
| Thursday | 8am | 8pm | Permit required for relevant vehicles. |
| Friday | 8am | 8pm | Allow extra time before closing. |
| Saturday | 8am | 8pm | Weekend traffic can be heavier. |
| Sunday | 8am | 8pm | Public HWRC is open; asbestos route is closed. |
Christmas Day
The public recycling centre is closed.
New Year’s Day
The public recycling centre is closed.
Other holiday dates
Check the official centre page before travelling because temporary changes can be announced.
Do not mix service hours
The asbestos and trade-waste transfer entrance uses separate opening times from the household centre.
Longley Lane tip booking rules and who can use it
| Visitor | Can use the public HWRC? | What is required? |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester resident | Yes. | Household waste only and correct vehicle rules. |
| Stockport resident | Yes. | You may use any participating Greater Manchester centre. |
| Other participating GM resident | Yes. | Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside or Trafford residents are included. |
| Wigan resident | Use Wigan Council’s own recycling-centre service. | Check Wigan’s local access rules. |
| Resident outside Greater Manchester | Use your home council’s service. | Longley Lane is not the normal free route. |
| Business or tradesperson | Not through the public HWRC. | Use the paid commercial waste-transfer service. |
No pedestrian access: residents without a vehicle may take a small amount of household recycling or waste to the entrance and hand it to a SUEZ staff member. Do not walk around the operational vehicle area.
Car, van, pickup and trailer rules
Longley Lane is one of the larger Greater Manchester sites that can accept pickups, campervans and minibuses, subject to the correct permit and household-waste rules.
| Vehicle | Permit? | Visit allowance | Important rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal car, SUV or people carrier | No van permit. | Up to 52 visits a year. | ANPR and CCTV monitor entries. |
| Car with single-axle trailer | No van permit stated. | Included within the car’s 52 visits. | Trailer must be suitable and safe. |
| Van under 5.3 metres | Yes. | 18 visits in a full permit year. | Create the account at least two working days before the first visit. |
| Hire van | Yes. | Uses the permit allocation. | Vehicle must be under 5.3 metres; upload required hire details. |
| Pickup truck | Yes. | 18 visits in a full permit year. | Longley Lane is an approved larger site. |
| Twin-axle trailer | Yes. | 18 visits; entries also reduce the car allowance. | The trailer must have been designed to carry goods. |
| Wheelchair-adapted vehicle | No permit solely because of the adaptation. | Car-category rules normally apply. | Longley Lane can accommodate larger adapted vehicles. |
Permit timing: applications are normally processed within two working days. The permit is free and runs through the scheme year from 1 April to 31 March. A part-year application can receive a reduced, pro-rated visit allowance.
Is my Longley Lane recycling-centre trip ready?
Trip details
Result: Complete the details above.
Load the vehicle in unloading order
- Reusable items for Renew donation
- Electricals, batteries and gas bottles
- Paper, cardboard and glass
- Wood, metal and rigid materials
- Garden waste
- Rubble, soil and plasterboard
- Non-recyclable household rubbish last
Safety: keep children and pets inside the vehicle. Wear sensible footwear and gloves for heavy, sharp or dirty items.
Longley Lane annual visit tracker
Use this private browser tool to estimate how many entries remain. The official ANPR or permit account remains the final record.
Track household visits
No estimate saved.
When the estimate can differ
- A part-year van permit can be pro-rated.
- Twin-axle trailer visits also count against the towing car’s total.
- ANPR and the permit account are the official record.
- Permit years reset on 1 April.
- Repeated commercial-looking loads can be inspected or refused.
Common waste accepted at Longley Lane HWRC
The official A–Z should be checked for unusual or hazardous items. The categories below cover common household trips.
Do not place batteries, vapes, gas bottles or electrical items in general rubbish. They can cause fires when waste is compacted or processed.
Which container or service should I use?
Select an item
Result: Select an item above.
Ask the gate operative when:
- The item contains several different materials.
- You are unsure whether it can be donated.
- The container is not visible or appears full.
- The item is sharp, heavy or leaking.
- You have chemicals or an unidentified product.
- The load could look like trade waste.
DIY waste, soil, tiles and plasterboard rules
You may take DIY waste that you personally produced at your own home. Waste created or removed by a paid tradesperson is business waste.
| DIY material | Household-centre rule | Practical preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Bricks, concrete and rubble | Maximum five 900mm × 600mm rubble sacks per visit. | Use strong sacks that one person can move safely. |
| Soil and natural turf | Included within the five-sack rubble restriction. | Do not place soil in garden-waste recycling. |
| Floor and wall tiles | Use the hardcore and rubble container. | Protect sharp edges during transport. |
| Plasterboard | Accepted separately as DIY waste. | Do not mix with ordinary rubble or general rubbish. |
| Scrap metal | Accepted from personal household DIY work. | Remove non-metal attachments where practical. |
| Wood and timber | Accepted from personal household projects. | Cut long pieces to a safe transport size. |
| Builder-produced waste | Not accepted through the free public HWRC. | The contractor must arrange lawful commercial disposal. |
Rubble bag allowance checker
Result: Enter the load details.
Large project alternatives
- Hire a correctly licensed skip.
- Use a registered waste carrier.
- Ask the contractor to include disposal in the quote.
- Keep the waste-transfer note or receipt.
- Do not divide trade waste into smaller household trips.
Is Longley Lane recycling centre free?
| Service | Cost position | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Household-centre entry | Free for eligible Greater Manchester residents. | Only waste and recycling from your own home. |
| Normal car visit | No booking or entry charge. | Annual car-visit allowance applies. |
| Van and trailer permit | Free. | Application and annual visit limits apply. |
| Small household DIY waste | No separate fee stated within the household allowance. | Five-sack rubble limit and personal-DIY rule apply. |
| Business or trade waste | Chargeable. | Use a SUEZ commercial waste-transfer facility and weighbridge. |
| Paid builder’s waste | Commercial disposal cost applies. | The contractor should remove and pay for it. |
No reliable public flat-rate price list was verified for commercial loads. Charges can depend on material and weight. Businesses can contact the SUEZ Business and Trade Waste team on 01628 513900.
Can I take asbestos to Longley Lane?
Asbestos is not accepted in the normal public recycling-centre containers. Limited cement-bonded household asbestos uses the separate Longley Lane waste-transfer entrance.
| Asbestos requirement | Verified instruction |
|---|---|
| Accepted type | Cement-bonded asbestos removed from your own home. |
| Wrapping | Double wrap and completely seal it in heavy-duty plastic or suitable rubble sacks. |
| Entrance | Use the waste-transfer entrance used by council and high-sided vehicles, not the public HWRC lane. |
| Proof | Take a recent Council Tax, water, gas, electricity or landline bill for the property. |
| PPE | Hard hat, safety glasses, high-visibility vest or jacket, safety gloves and steel-capped footwear. |
Longley Lane asbestos disposal hours
| Day | Separate transfer-facility hours |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 7am–6pm |
| Saturday | 7am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Bank holidays | 7am–5pm |
| 25 and 26 December; 1 January | Closed |
Do not break, cut, drill or unwrap asbestos on site. Review current HSE safety guidance before attempting to identify, remove or transport suspected asbestos.
Donate reusable items before throwing them away
Longley Lane has a Renew donation route. Suitable items are repaired or prepared for resale, with proceeds supporting Greater Manchester community causes.
Good donation candidates
Bikes, tools, books, media, bric-a-brac, working electricals and suitable furniture.
Upholstered furniture
Reusable upholstered seating needs the required fire-safety label.
Ask before unloading
Tell the gate operative that an item may be reusable so it is not placed into a disposal container first.
Items Renew cannot donate
Examples include mattresses, crash helmets, child car seats, cots, highchairs, prams and petrol- or gas-powered equipment.
Address, Google Map and local driving tips
Longley Lane Recycling Centre
Address:
Longley Lane
Sharston
Manchester
M22 4RQ
- Public HWRC: 8am–8pm daily
- No arrival-slot booking
- Permit for vans, pickups and twin-axle trailers
- No trade waste through public lanes
- No public pedestrian access inside the site
- ANPR and CCTV operate
Navigation tip: the recycling centre is in Sharston near the M56. Use the full centre name and M22 4RQ so navigation does not confuse it with another Longley or Long Lane location.
Other recycling centres when Longley Lane is busy
Permit flexibility: an approved Greater Manchester van permit can be used at participating household recycling centres, but larger vehicles and pickups are accepted only at specified sites.
Longley Lane links for the final action
Information checked: 26 June 2026. Hours, permits, traffic conditions, container availability and commercial arrangements can change. Check the official centre page immediately before travelling.
Frequently asked questions
What are Longley Lane recycling centre opening times?
Longley Lane public household recycling centre is currently open Monday to Sunday from 8am until 8pm. It is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Do I need to book Longley Lane recycling centre?
No arrival time or booking slot is required. Visit during opening hours, but obtain a free permit first if you are using a van, pickup truck, hire van or twin-axle trailer.
Is Longley Lane tip free?
Yes, eligible residents of participating Greater Manchester council areas can dispose of household waste from their own homes free of charge. Business and trade waste is chargeable through a commercial facility.
Do vans and trailers need a Longley Lane permit?
Vans, hire vans, pickup trucks and twin-axle trailers need a free van permit. Applications are normally processed within two working days.
How many times can I visit Longley Lane?
Cars and cars with single-axle trailers can make up to 52 visits a year. Vans, pickups and twin-axle trailers receive up to 18 visits in a full permit year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March.
How much rubble can I take to Longley Lane?
You can take up to five 900mm × 600mm sacks of rubble, hardcore, soil or tiles per visit when the material came from DIY work you completed at your own home.
Can I take waste left by a builder to Longley Lane?
No. Waste produced or left by a paid builder, gardener or tradesperson is business waste. The contractor should arrange lawful commercial disposal.
Can I take asbestos to Longley Lane?
Asbestos is not accepted in the normal public HWRC. Limited cement-bonded household asbestos can use the separate Longley Lane transfer-facility entrance when correctly wrapped and accompanied by required PPE and address evidence.
Can I walk into Longley Lane recycling centre?
There is no normal pedestrian access inside the household recycling centre. Residents with a small amount and no vehicle can go to the entrance and hand it to a SUEZ staff member.
What can I take to Longley Lane?
Common accepted household materials include paper, cardboard, glass, metal, timber, garden waste, electricals, batteries, gas bottles, engine oil, tyres, carpets, rubble, soil, plasterboard and non-recyclable household rubbish. Check the official A–Z for unusual items.