Leicester tips and recycling centres: opening times and rules
Here are the household tips in and around Leicester, with opening times, van rules, rubble limits and charges, all checked against Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council pages on 27 October 2026.
- Leicester city has two tips: Gypsum Close (LE4) and Freemen's Common (LE2)
- Both open every day, 8am to 6pm in winter and 8am to 8pm in summer
- Vans need a permit and can only use Gypsum Close for normal household waste
- Nearby Leicestershire county sites have shorter hours and fewer open days, and charge for most rubble and plasterboard
Leicester city tips
| Tip | Postcode | Vans? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gypsum Close | LE4 9AB | Yes, with permit | Trade centre and re-use shop. No asbestos |
| Freemen's Common | LE2 7SQ | Only for asbestos or chemicals | Takes asbestos and chemicals. No pedestrians |
| Months | Opening hours (every day) |
|---|---|
| November to March | 8am to 6pm |
| April to October | 8am to 8pm |
| Closed | Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day |
Winter hours start on 1 November, so from then the site closes at 6pm.
City tip rules
- Cars: can use either city site, no permit needed (unless towing a trailer over 1.4m)
- Vans, pick-ups and trailers over 1.4m: Gypsum Close only, with a city council waste permit
- Soil, hardcore and rubble: no more than six 25kg bags per visit
- Asbestos and household chemicals: Freemen's Common only
- Business waste: not allowed. Businesses can use the paid trade facility at Gypsum Close
Full van permit details are on the Gypsum Close page.
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Nearby Leicestershire county sites
Outside the city boundary, Leicestershire County Council runs its own recycling and household waste sites. The nearest to Leicester are:
| Site | Address | Status in autumn 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Oadby | Wigston Road, Oadby, LE2 5JE | Temporarily open Sunday to Wednesday only |
| Whetstone | Enderby Road, Whetstone, LE8 6JL | Open Monday and Thursday to Sunday. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday |
| Mountsorrel | Granite Way, Mountsorrel, LE12 7TZ | Closed from 27 October until early December for improvement works |
County sites open 9am to 4pm from 1 October to 31 March. In summer they open 9am to 5pm Saturday to Monday and 9am to 7pm Tuesday to Friday, on the days each site is open. Last entry is no later than 5 minutes before closing.
Further out, there are tip guides for Loughborough (closed Thursday and Friday) and Barwell near Hinckley (closed Thursday and Friday).
County site rules and charges
- No booking needed. Weekends and bank holidays are busiest
- Free waste permit needed for vans, pick-ups and cars with trailers over 1.37m (4ft 6in)
- Free DIY allowance: up to 100 litres (two 50-litre bags) or one large item, once every 7 days per household
- Above that: £3 per tub of hardcore, rubble or soil, £3 per sheet or tub of plasterboard, and £3 per tub of flat glass
- Asbestos: £10 per sheet, only at Coalville, Kibworth, Mountsorrel and Whetstone, with an asbestos permit
- Card payments only. No cash
- Not accepted: tyres, vehicle parts, construction or treated wood, and business waste
When the tip isn't the answer
A lot of people search for the tip and then realise it won't work for them. A licensed local company can load everything and take it away instead.
| Your problem | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| No car, or it won't fit in the car | Rubbish removal: they load it for you |
| Just one big item, like a sofa or fridge | Single item removal, often carried out from inside |
| More than six bags of soil, bricks or rubble | Builders' waste removal, or a grab lorry for tonnes of it |
| Van or trailer but no permit, or permit visits used up | Rubbish removal: no permit needed |
| Clearing a whole house, flat or a relative's home | House clearance |
| Big garden clear-out | Garden waste removal |
Leicester City Council bulky waste collection
If you live in Leicester city, the council will collect large household items from outside your home:
- Free once every two months, for up to five items
- £22 for any extra collection, up to five items
- Items must be outside by 7am. The crew won't go into your home, shed or garage, and won't take anything apart
- They won't take building waste, garden waste, items with glass or mirrors, sheds, tyres or pianos
- Once booked, a collection can't be cancelled, changed or refunded
If you can carry the items outside yourself and can wait for a slot, it's good value. If the item is upstairs, needs dismantling, or you need it gone quickly, a private collection is easier.
Skip the tip trip
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