Medway Tip Opening Times: Restrictions & Skip Hire Solutions
If you’re clearing out waste in Medway, knowing the Medway tip opening times, landfill rules, and skip hire policies is essential. Whether you’re decluttering your home, renovating, or managing business waste, this guide covers everything—from recycling centre locations and booking requirements to skip hire costs and landfill restrictions.
We’re Skip Hire Team, your local waste management experts, and we’ve put together this complete resource to help you dispose of waste responsibly and efficiently.
Medway has two Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) where you can dispose of waste legally. Both require online bookings before visiting.
Key Changes This Year:
- 📌 New vehicle height limits (2.1m max at all sites)
- 📌 Stricter trailer rules (under 3m only, must book)
- 📌 Cuxton now closed Sundays (affects 1 in 5 Rochester users)
- 📌 Permit required? If placing on public land (~£30-£50)
- 📌 Weight limits: Overloaded skips may incur extra fees
- 📌 Prohibited waste: No hazardous materials (asbestos, chemicals)
1. Cuxton Recycling Centre
📍 Address: Rochester Rd, Cuxton, Rochester ME2 1SS
📅 Opening Times:
April to September: 8:00am – 6:00pm (7 days a week)
October to March: 8:00am – 4:30pm (7 days a week)
Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day
🚗 Vehicle Restrictions:
- No vans or trailers over 3min
- Max 6 visits per month
- 18 mins via A2
- 12 mins from ME2 0** areas
- All vans require 48hr notice
✅ Accepts: Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals)
❌ Rejects: All ME1 postcodes
⚠️ Warning: Tight access – our 4-yard skips often fit better
📌 Booking Required? Yes – Book online via Medway Council
Pro Tip: Our local skip hire in Rochester often works out cheaper than multiple tip trips when fuel and time are factored in.
2. Capstone Recycling Centre (Chatham)
📍 Address: Capstone Rd, Chatham ME7 3JL
📅 Opening Times:
April to September: 8:00am – 6:00pm (7 days a week)
October to March: 8:00am – 4:30pm (7 days a week)
Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day
🚗 Vehicle Restrictions:
- No vans or trailers over 1.8m
- Max 6 visits per month
- 22 mins (best for ME5 crossover)
✅ Accepts: Garden waste, wood
❌ Rejects: Commercial vans without booking
💡 Our Data: 40% faster queues than Strood on weekdays
📌 Booking Required? Yes – Book online via Medway Council
3. Gillingham Hoath Way Household Waste (HWRC)
📍 Address: Ambley Road, Gillingham ME8 0QH
📅 Opening Times:
April to September: 8:00am – 6:00pm (7 days a week)
October to March: 8:00am – 4:30pm (7 days a week)
🚗 Rochester Access: 18 mins via A2
✅ Accepts: Mattresses, scrap metal
❌ Rejects: Soil/rubble over 100kg
📊 Wait Times: 35+ mins Saturdays
4. Pepperhill Recycling Centre (Near Gravesend)
📍 Address: Thames Way, Northfleet DA11 9PA
📅 Opening Times:
Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Summer) / 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Winter)
🚗 Vehicle Restrictions: No vans over 3.5 tonnes
✅ Accepted Waste:
General household waste
Garden waste, wood, metal, and electricals
Cardboard, paper, and plastics
Batteries and small hazardous waste
❌ Banned Items:
Asbestos
Commercial waste (businesses must use skip hire)
Tyres (some exceptions apply)
📌 Booking Required? No (but check for updates)
5. Allington Recycling Centre (Maidstone)
📍 Address: Bank St, Allington ME16 0LE
📅 Opening Times:
Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Summer) / 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Winter)
🚗 Vehicle Restrictions: No large vans without permit
✅ Accepted Waste:
General household waste
Garden waste, wood, metal, and electricals
Cardboard, paper, and plastics
Batteries and small hazardous waste
❌ Banned Items:
Asbestos
Commercial waste (businesses must use skip hire)
Tyres (some exceptions apply)
📌 Booking Required? No
Centre Comparison
| Centre | Size | Waiting Times | Ease of Access | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Capstone |
Largest in Medway |
Typically shorter |
Good road access |
Comprehensive recycling facilities |
|
Hoath Way |
Medium |
Can be busy at weekends |
Central location |
Best for paint and oil disposal |
|
Cuxton |
Smallest in Medway |
Usually quietest |
Narrow access road |
Limited facilities but less crowded |
|
Allington (Maidstone) |
Very large |
Moderate to long |
Good access from M20 |
Energy recovery facility nearby, accepts wider range of materials |
|
Pepperhill |
Large |
Often busy |
Excellent access from A2 |
Modern facility with extensive recycling options, separate trade waste area
|
All Medway recycling centres are free for Medway residents to use for household waste. However, there are charges for certain types of waste:
- Construction/DIY Waste: £6 per bag or item
- Plasterboard: £10 per sheet
- Tyres: £5 per tyre
- Asbestos: Not accepted at any Medway HWRC (specialist disposal required)
When a Skip Beats Tip Runs
After analyzing 500+ local jobs last year, here’s when our customers switch to skips:
✅ Choose a Skip When You Have:
- More than 15 bags of waste
- Mixed materials (e.g., soil + wood + metal)
- No time for 3+ tip journeys
- You’re in ME1/ME2 postcode
- Need weekend disposal
Benefits of Skip Hire vs. Recycling Centres
- Convenience: We deliver and collect, saving you multiple trips
- Time-saving: No need to book slots or queue at the tip
- Flexibility: Fill at your own pace over several days
- No heavy lifting: Load directly without having to move waste twice
- No vehicle mess: Avoid getting your car dirty from waste transport
- Permit handling: We arrange council permits for skips on public land
Our Rochester Skip Options
- 4 yard and 8 yard skips – Perfect for medium to large house clearances and improvements.
- 12 yard skips – Ideal for renovations
- RORO skips – Best for large projects
Real Example: A Chatham homeowner saved £142 and 8 hours by using our 8-yard skip instead of 7 tip runs.
Choose Medway Tips If:
✔ You have < 10 bags of waste
✔ Can visit weekdays before 3pm
✔ Have time to sort materials
Skip Hire vs Tip: Cost Comparison
| Scenario | Tip Cost | Our Skip Cost | Time Saved | Hidden Tip Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3-Bed House Clearance
(35m³ mixed waste) |
Free (6 trips) |
£239
12-yard skip |
9 hours
(3 Saturdays) |
£24 fuel, £60 parking fines risk, £40 trailer hire |
|
Garden Renovation
(15m³ soil/hedge waste) |
£35 fuel
(4 trips in estate car) |
£169
6-yard skip
No weight limits |
5 hours
(2 weekday mornings) |
£15 disposal charges
(for excess soil) |
|
Builder’s Waste
(3-tonne mixed rubble) |
Rejected
(Commercial quantities) |
£389
20yd RORO
Next-day delivery |
12+ hours
(No tip runs needed) |
£220+ at commercial site |
|
Garage Clearout
(8m³ general waste) |
“Free”
(3 trips) |
£149
8-yard skip
1-day rental |
4 hours |
£9 fuel, £12 parking risk |
3 Money-Saving Tips We Give All Customers
1. The 3-Trip Rule
If your project needs >3 tip runs, our skip hire calculator usually shows savings
2. The Hidden Cost
That “free” tip run costs most locals £12-£18 in fuel and time
3. The Permit Hack
Our team handles all skip permits – no council paperwork needed
Our Service Areas Beyond Rochester
While we’re Rochester experts, we also cover:
Landfill Rules in Medway: What You Need to Know
Medway Council encourages recycling over landfill, but some non-recyclable waste still goes to landfill.
🚯 Landfill Restrictions:
No mixed waste (must be sorted)
Higher fees for non-recyclables
Business waste must use licensed carriers
💡 Eco-friendly tip: Use skip hire with recycling guarantees to minimise landfill contributions.
Need Reliable Skip Hire in Medway?
At Skip Hire Team, we offer same-day skip delivery, competitive pricing, and eco-friendly waste disposal. Whether you’re renovating, landscaping, or clearing out, we’ve got the right skip for you.
📞 Call us Call 0800 260 5989 today or get a quick online quote!
Final Tip: Always check Medway Council’s latest rules before visiting tips or hiring skips—policies can change!
