The Tunbridge Wells tip is the busiest search of its kind in Kent, and for good reason: it serves Royal Tunbridge Wells, Southborough, Rusthall, Pembury and many Tonbridge households. Here’s what to know before you load the car.
Kent County Council can change rules and hours, so check its website before you set off. Details below were checked in October 2026.
Where is the Tunbridge Wells tip?
The tip is on North Farm Lane in the North Farm area, on the north-east side of Tunbridge Wells near the retail and industrial estates. The postcode for sat nav is TN2 3EE.
| Official name | Tunbridge Wells Household Waste Recycling Centre |
|---|---|
| Address | North Farm Lane, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3EE |
| Run by | Kent County Council |
| Booking | Required for every visit |
Tunbridge Wells tip opening times
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday | 8am to 4:30pm |
| Sunday | 9am to 4pm |
| Bank holidays | 9am to 4pm |
Kent tips use the same hours all year. Sites can close at short notice for safety or maintenance, so check the council page on the day.
How to book a slot
- You must book a slot before you go. Entry without a booking is not allowed.
- Book online at hwrcbookings.kent.gov.uk, on the day or up to two weeks ahead.
- No internet? Call Kent County Council on 03000 41 73 73, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
- Bring your booking reference (on your phone or written down) and a vehicle voucher if your vehicle needs one.
What the Tunbridge Wells tip takes, and what it doesn’t
- General household rubbish, furniture, mattresses, garden waste, electricals, fridges and freezers (emptied first).
- Books and community care equipment such as walking frames, crutches and wheelchairs, which are collected for reuse.
- Not taken here: household chemicals, antifreeze and pesticides. For chemicals, use Kent’s Maidstone (Tovil) or Dartford sites.
No Kent tip takes Calor gas bottles, petrol, fireworks, clinical waste, plaster powder, oil tanks, bitumen, commercial paint or business waste. Medicines go back to a pharmacy.
Charges at the tip
Most household waste is free. You pay for tyres, and for DIY waste once you go over the free allowance.
| Item | Free allowance | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Household rubbish, furniture, mattresses, garden waste, electricals | No limit | Free |
| DIY waste (rubble, soil, hardcore, tiles, bathroom ceramics) | 1 large item or 2 x 50L bags a visit, 4 visits in 4 weeks | £5 per item or bag over the limit |
| Plasterboard | Same DIY allowance (1 sheet = 1 bag) | £7.50 per sheet or bag over the limit |
| Car and motorbike tyres | None | £3 per tyre, up to 5 a day |
| Visitors who don’t pay Council Tax in Kent | None | £10 per visit |
Payment is by debit or credit card only. Business and trade waste is not accepted at any Kent tip.
Vans, trailers and vehicle vouchers
- No voucher needed: cars, estates, people carriers and 4x4s with windows and seats, and pick-ups.
- Voucher needed: panel vans, car-derived vans, and people carriers or 4x4s with panels instead of rear windows or no rear seats. Vouchers are free but can take up to 28 days to arrive, and they are only for a household’s only vehicle.
- Not allowed at all: hire vans, tippers, vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and anything over 2 metres tall, including roof boxes.
- Trailers: body no longer than 2.05m, no built-up sides, and it must stay hitched to the car.
Tips for a quicker visit
- Sort your load before you leave: electricals, paper, textiles, garden waste and general rubbish in separate bags.
- Bring someone to help. Staff can’t lift heavy items, builders’ bags or HIPPOBAGs for you.
- Wear sturdy shoes and keep children and pets in the car.
- Take good furniture and books separately so they can go for reuse.
Other tips near Tunbridge Wells
- Sevenoaks tip at Dunbrik, Sundridge (TN14 6EP), about a 25-minute drive.
- Maidstone tips at Allington and Tovil, which also take chemicals.
When a house clearance makes more sense
A few car loads is a job for the tip. A whole house, a packed loft or a garage full of heavy furniture usually isn’t. Multiple bookings, van vouchers and DIY charges add up fast, and you still have to do all the lifting.
If you’re clearing a family home in Tunbridge Wells, we can do it in one visit and take everything away, including the items the tip won’t. See our house clearance in Tunbridge Wells page or get a free quote below.