People using recycling centres across Greater Manchester will need to prove they live in the region under new rules starting in 2027, despite a councillor's warning that the checks could lead to long 'passport-style' queues.
The new requirements will be introduced from New Year, according to a Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) report, except in Wigan, which is not part of the region's waste disposal authority. Anyone trying to dispose of rubbish at a tip will need to show a driver's licence or another document confirming they live at a local address.
Soft launch planned for address checks
The GMCA report states the change is expected to begin from New Year 2027 with an initial 'soft' launch. During this period, people will not be turned away for lacking proof of address, but they will be reminded to bring proof on their next visit.
Household waste recycling centres across Greater Manchester are free for residents of nine of the ten boroughs, excluding Wigan, which are part of the Greater Manchester waste disposal authority. The GMCA said in its report: "The favoured form of acceptable proof of address will be the driver's license as it should always be registered to the driver's current address. Other specified forms of photo ID will be accepted as will combinations of documentation such as utility bills and photo ID."
Concerns over queues and fly-tipping
In 2025, the GMCA's recycling centres recorded more than 4.7 million visits from over one million unique vehicle registrations. The report noted that Greater Manchester 'experienced an uplift of visitor numbers' to a tip in Adswood, Stockport, after the closure of three tips in Cheshire in 2024.
Some councillors and residents have questioned whether the rules could cause long queues and increase fly-tipping. Peter Crossen, Conservative councillor for Bramhall South and Woodford, said: "All you're going to be doing is encouraging passport-style queues at tips, and it is going to lead to frustration." He added: "My initial opinion is that it's a bit of bureaucratic nonsense essentially. It comes off the back of there being an implosion of people using certain tips around Greater Manchester because a lot of tips are closing, so those that still exist are coming under massive pressure. But I also think the pressures that you have on refuse centres at the minute is going to grow significantly if you're asking the staff there to check the validity of every person who uses it."
David Meller, Labour councillor for Cheadle East and Cheadle Hulme North, said: "If it makes it a little more of a rigmarole to access a tip then my worry is whether it's going to increase fly-tipping in areas, and I think there's a fine balance with this that we need to be careful of. But equally, we don't want the system to be abused by those coming from well outside the borough and using our tips because then ultimately we're paying for other people's waste."
Residents' worries and future systems
Residents have also voiced concerns. Pat Walsh, who lives in Levenshulme near the recycling centre on Sandfold Lane, said: "I'd be worried if it discourages people from using the tip because there's already a major issue in terms of fly-tipping. There may be people using the tip who aren't from Manchester but at least they're using the tip, and if it's not available to them then it's just going to increase the risk of fly-tipping."
Another Levenshulme local, Jeremy Hoad, said: "At face value I would say it doesn't sound like a good thing because it's putting barriers in the way of people being able to use the tip. They may say it's a casual check to make sure you're from the area, but there are people who will go 'well I can't be bothered with that, I'll just put it in a back alley instead'." He added: "Unless the recycling facilities are running at or beyond capacity and can't cope with the volume, then it doesn't really seem to solve anything."
The GMCA added in its report: "Aside from monitoring the soft checks once commenced, GMCA will continue to research systems that remove a human interface at the entry point to the sites. Each site is equipped with automatic number plate recognition which could be used for proof of address if linked to the DVLA database. Alternatives to this include a system similar to the van permit system where residents register their vehicles – another neighbouring authority is implementing such a scheme." The GMCA was contacted for comment.
