Vans and trailers at Edinburgh tips
Here are Edinburgh's rules for vans and trailers at the tip, checked against City of Edinburgh Council pages on 30 October 2026.
- Vans and trailers get three half-hour slots a day: 11am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm
- No vans at Craigmillar. Use Seafield or Sighthill
- Trailers up to 6ft by 4ft, not counting the frame or hitch
- Hire vans only if hired for 5 days or less
- Not allowed: liveried vans, Luton vans, anything over 3.5t
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Van slots
Vans and trailers that meet the council's rules can only book half hour visits at 11am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm, and they are not let in outside those times. Craigmillar takes no vans. Seafield and Sighthill do. The council page says vans with more than 12 visits in a twelve-month period are not allowed.
Size limits
A trailer carrying household waste must measure less than 6ft by 4ft, excluding the frame and tow hitch.
Not allowed
- Liveried vans
- Luton vans
- Any vehicle over 3.5 tonnes
- Horse boxes
- Flat-bed tipper or flat-bed transit style vehicles
The council page does not mention pick-ups, so ask before you book one.
Documents
Bring the email confirming the booking and photo ID that proves you are from the City of Edinburgh Council area. Staff can refuse entry if you cannot show the right documents. More in tip booking.
Hire vans
A hire van is allowed only if hired for no more than 5 days. A van hired for longer than 5 days is not permitted on site. If a van trip looks awkward, try the council bulky uplift or rubbish removal.