Rules and charges can change, so always check the council website before you set off. The details below were correct when this guide was updated in October 2026.
The 19 Kent County Council sites
Kent County Council runs household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) at:
- Allington
- Ashford
- Canterbury
- Dartford
- Deal
- Dover
- Faversham
- Folkestone
- Herne Bay
- Maidstone
- Margate
- New Romney
- Pepperhill
- Richborough
- Sevenoaks
- Sheerness
- Sittingbourne
- Swanley
- Tunbridge Wells
Most Kent tips open Monday to Saturday 8am to 4:30pm, and Sundays and bank holidays 9am to 4pm. Check the Kent County Council page for your site before you go.
Town-by-town guides: Tunbridge Wells tip · Ashford tip · Folkestone tip · Margate tip · Sevenoaks tip · Maidstone tips · Sittingbourne tip · Faversham tip · Sheerness tip · Canterbury tip · Dover tip · Medway tips
How booking works
- Book a slot online before you visit. You can book on the day or up to two weeks in advance.
- If you cannot book online, Kent County Council offers phone booking on weekdays.
- Bring your booking reference, plus a vehicle voucher if your vehicle needs one.
- Sort your load before you arrive. Keep electricals, paper and textiles separate so unloading is quick.
What is free and what you pay for
Most household waste is free to drop off, including furniture, garden waste, electricals and general rubbish. Charges apply to tyres and to DIY waste over the free limit.
| Item | Free allowance | Charge over the limit |
|---|---|---|
| DIY waste (rubble, soil, hardcore and similar) | 4 visits in 4 weeks, 1 large item or 2 bags per visit | £5 per item or bag |
| Plasterboard | As above, 1 sheet counts as 1 bag | £7.50 per sheet or bag |
| Car and motorbike tyres | None | £3 per tyre, up to 5 a day |
| Visitors who don’t live in Kent (including Medway) | None | £10 per visit |
Plastic kitchen units, non-ceramic sinks, baths and doors have no limits or charges. Business or trade waste is not accepted at household sites.
Vans, trailers and vehicle vouchers
If you are using a van, a pickup or towing a trailer, check Kent County Council’s vehicle restrictions before you book. Some larger vehicles need a vehicle voucher, and turning up without one can mean being turned away. Hired vans are a common problem, so check this before you collect the keys.
Tips for a smooth visit
- Load the car in the order you’ll unload it, with the heaviest items nearest the boot.
- Break down flat-pack furniture and cardboard at home so it takes up less space.
- Bag small items by type: textiles, small electricals, paper and general waste.
- Staff can point you to the right container, but you need to do the lifting yourself.
- Go early on a weekday if you can. Weekends and bank holidays are the busiest times.
- Check the reuse options. Some sites have reuse areas or partner with local charities.
Medway’s tips
Medway Council runs its own three sites at Capstone, Cuxton and Hoath Way. Since Kent County Council and Medway Council separated their tips, Kent residents can no longer use the Medway sites, and Medway residents pay £10 to use a Kent site.
- Only Medway Council Tax payers can book, and you need proof of address.
- Cars can be booked up to 7 days ahead and at least 4 hours before your visit.
- Small private vans can be booked at Capstone and Cuxton only, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, at least 4 days ahead.
- Hoath Way does not take van bookings, and arriving in a van with a car booking means being turned away.
When a clearance is easier than the tip
The tip makes sense for a few car loads. It gets harder when you have a full house, heavy furniture, a loft full of boxes, or no van. Several trips, a hired van, booking slots and DIY waste charges soon add up, and so does the time.
A clearance team does the lifting, loading and sorting in one visit, takes everything to licensed facilities and gives you waste paperwork. We cover the whole county, including Maidstone, Ashford, Dartford and Margate. For lofts and garages, see loft clearance and garage clearance.
Related guides: shed and garden rubbish clearance and bulky waste collection in Kent.