CRC Trade Access Permit information

What is a community recycling centre Trade Access Permit?

A comunity recycling centre (CRC) Trade Access Permit enables businesses to deposit their waste at our CRCs.

Our CRC Trade Access Permit only covers waste and recycling produced by the permit holder and cannot be used by Waste Management Companies to dispose of third party waste (waste management companies are defined as companies that as part of their core activities collect commercial or household waste either in a skip or refuse collection vehicle or any vehicle over 3.5 tonnes).

Businesses without a permit will not be allowed to deposit waste at CRCs. 

Refer to the 'How much waste am I permitted to dispose of and what are the load sizes?' section below to find out more about the volumes of waste which can be disposed of under this permit system.

How does the permit work?

Customers buy a permit book containing five or 10 tickets online or by phoning Customer Advice and Support 0300 100 1800. 

Permit books are bought dependant on the waste type and load size you wish to deposit.

Permit books must be taken with you whenever you visit our sites to dispose of your waste, failure to do so will result in you being turned away. Upon arrival on site, the site attendant will examine your waste to ensure it corresponds to the permit type and load size of your tickets.

One ticket must be torn from the book for every load you deposit, signed by both the visitor and site attendant.

The tickets will constitute a Waste Transfer Note for the purposes of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section 34 (Duty of Care). You should retain top part of your ticket booklet for your records and keep them for at least two years. This is required to fulfill your duty of care.

Some specific items under the Electrical Household Clearance Permit are classified as Hazardous Waste. You will need to provide a Special Waste Consignment Note (SWCN) for each visit that you bring these items in.

What types of permits do you offer?

We offer four types of CRC Trade Access Permits with differing load size options:

Recycling Permit

The Recycling Permit allows businesses to dispose of dry, mixed recyclables such as paper, cardboard, card, cans and plastics (in line with the current kerbside collection service), scrap metal, green waste and wood. Tickets are available in small, medium and large load size.

Recycling and General Waste Permit

The Recycling and General Waste Permit allows businesses to dispose of:

• green waste
• rubble
• soil
• stones
• general waste
• dry mixed recyclables such as paper, cardboard, card, cans and plastics (in line with the current kerbside collection service)
• scrap metal
• wood

Tickets are available in small, medium and large load size. Please note disposal of rubble and soil is only accepted in small loads.

Charity disposing of donated Household Goods Permit

The Charity Disposing of Donated Household Goods Permit allows disposal of:

• donated household items charities could not reuse or recycle in their shop
• wood ie furniture
• scrap metal
• general waste
• domestic WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment ie computers, white goods, fluorescent tubes and light bulbs, TVs, monitors etc.)
• batteries
• books
• CDs
• textiles

Tickets are available in small, medium and large load size.

Electrical Household Clearance Permit

The Electrical Household Clearance Permit allows businesses carrying out house clearances to dispose of domestic WEEE obtained during house clearances.

Tickets are available in small load size. One ticket will allow disposal of multiple small electrical items or one large electrical item, such as:

• fridge
• freezer
• fridge freezer
• cooker
• dishwasher
• washing machine

What are the load sizes?

When we refer to sack sizes we consider a sack to be a 30 litre hessian sack, or waste of an equivalent volume. See an example of a sack. Our site attendants will use their judgement to determine load size.

Selkirk CRC will only accept small load sizes.

• Small: equivalent of 1-4 sacks – small car load
• Medium: equivalent of 5-9 sacks – estate var, car derived van and 4x4
• Large: equivalent of 10-15 sacks – large and small panel vans, microvans, mini vans and transit vans not exceeding 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW)

How much waste am I permitted to dispose of?

Permits for Recycling Waste, Recycling and General Waste and Charity disposing of donated household goods can be bought in small, medium and large load sizes.

We have a maximum limit of one large load per customer per day.

Electrical Household Clearance Permits are only available in small load sizes. One ticket will allow disposal of multiple small electrical items or one larfe electrical item, such as a:

• fridge
• freezer
• fridge freezer
• cooker
• dishwasher
• washing machine

What happens if I have more waste than my permit allows?

We have a maximum limit of one large load per customer per day. If you have a small or medium permit and have a larger load than you anticipated you can use multiple tickets as follows:

• 2x small tickets can be used to cover a medium load
• 3x small tickets can be used to cover a large load
• 2x medium tickets can be used to cover a large load

You are not permitted to use two large tickets to cover a full van and also a trailer. 

Any additional waste will be turned away at the CRC. Abuse of the permit load sizes may result in Permits being revoked.

How much are the permits for 2024-25? (Prices coming into effect from 1 April 2024)

Recycling Permit

• Small load - £8.00 per ticket (minimum purchase 5 tickets - £40.00)
• Medium load - £12.00 per ticket (minimum purchase 5 tickets - £60.00)
• Large load - £15.00 per ticket (minimum purchase 5 tickets - £75.00)

Recycling & General waste permit

• Small load – £14.80 per ticket (minimum purchase 5 tickets - £74.00)
• Medium load - £26.00 per ticket (minimum purchase 5 tickets - £130.00)
• Large load - £36.00 per ticket (minimum purchase 5 tickets - £180.00)

Charity disposing of donated Household Goods permit

• Small load - £2.60 per ticket (minimum purchase 5 tickets - £13.00)
• Medium load - £5.00 per ticket (minimum purchase 5 tickets - £25.00)
• Large load - £7.60 per ticket (minimum purchase 5 tickets - £38.00)

Electrical Household Clearance items permit

• Small load - £2.60 per ticket (minimum purchase 5 tickets - £13.00)

How do I apply?

You can apply online or by phoning Customer Advice and Support on 0300 100 1800. 

When applying for a permit, you will need:

• your Waste Carriers Licence or Professional Transporter and Carrier of Waste registration number 
• your business’s relevant Standard Industry Classification (SIC) codes 
• a credit/debit card 

What is a Waste Carrier’s Licence or Professional Transporter and Carrier of Waste, and how do I register?

Businesses are required to register with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) either as a Waste Carrier or a Professional Transporter and Carrier of Waste to enable them to transport waste.

Registration as a Professional Transporter and Carrier of Waste is free, and a Waste Carriers Licence costs (at the time of print) £261 for a period of three years.

Many of the businesses using the CRC Trade Access Scheme will be eligible to register under the free category of a Professional Transporter and Carrier of Waste.

For further information on registering:

• visit the SEPA website
• contact SEPA by phone 01896 754797
• address in the Scottish Borders: Burnbrae, Mossilee Road, Galashiels, TD1 1NF

Once registered you will receive a registration number which you can use in your application for the CRC Trade Access Permit.

What is a Standard Industry Classification code and where do I find it?

The Standard Industry Classification (SIC) is a list of codes that describes the nature of your company’s business. A list of these can be found on the Government website. If you are registered with Companies House you will have allocated a SIC code to your business through this process.

What is a Special Waste Consignment Note and how do I get one?

An Special Waste Consignment Note (SWCN) is needed if you are transporting Hazardous waste. The hazardous waste items which are accepted at our CRCs under the Electrical Household Clearance Permit are (no other hazardous wastes are accepted):

• fluorescent Tubes and low energy excluding LED
• cathode ray tube (CRT), flatscreen (plasma or LCD) TVs
• laptop computers, tablets, and mobile phones with screens
• fridges and freezers
• white goods (eg washing machines, dishwashers and tumble driers) with hazardous components
• mixed batteries - unsorted (excludes vehicle batteries)

SWCNs are priced at £15 each and can be purchased from SEPA.

How long are the permits awarded for?

One year from date of issue.

How long does it take to receive my permit?

On receipt of payment your permit will be posted out to you within five working days.

Can I cancel my permit?

No, permits are non-refundable.

What size is the permit?

The permit booklet is A5 sized and will be produced in ticket form (in books of five or 10), they are printed with a hologram for security.

Where is my nearest CRC?

Currently we have seven recycling centres accepting trade waste permits. Selkirk CRC will accept a small load size only.

When can I visit the CRC/when can I use my permit?

When sites are open, trade access hours are:

Summer

• Monday to Friday: 10am-1.15pm and 2pm-4.45pm.
• Saturday: 9am-1.15pm

Winter

• Monday to Friday: 9am-1.15pm and 2pm-4.45pm
• Saturday: 9am-1.15pm

Trade access will not be permitted on Saturday afternoons or Sundays. Check your CRC for specific closure days.

Trade vehicles will not be allowed access to CRCs out with these times. 

How many vehicles can I purchase a permit for?

Up to four vehicles can be registered per permit.

What vehicles will be permitted/not permitted?

The permits are only available for vehicles up to and including a GVW of 3.5 tonnes.

Acceptable vehicles:

• car
• estate car
• car based van
• micro/minivan
• pick up/flatbed small panel van
• transit van
• 4x4

If you are accessing the site using a trailer or large vehicle, you must book a time slot.

Not permitted:

• horseboxes
• vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (GVW)
• agricultural vehicles (tractors)
• motorhomes
• tippers or tail-lifts
• caravans 

Can I change my vehicle/what if I’m temporarily using a hired vehicle when my vehicle is off the road?

Permits are only valid for the vehicles registered against them at point of sale. If you temporarily have a hired vehicle you can use your existing permit as long you bring along your hire vehicle documentation and show this to the CRC operator when you come to site.

What items will not be accepted under the Trade Access Permit?

Only the wastes specified for each permit will be accepted with the exception of the Electrical Household Clearance Permit where some of the accepted electrical items are hazardous, no hazardous waste is accepted under these permits. Examples of hazardous waste include:

• asbestos
• clinical waste
• chemicals

If you are bringing in general waste you must always comply with the provisions of the Landfill (Scotland) Regulations 2003 when disposing of waste under this permit. Therefore you must comply fully with the schedule Meeting the Landfill (Scotland) Regulations 2003. 

We do not accept any liquid waste under the permit. 

Contact the Trade Waste team regarding the disposal of any material you are unsure of prior to arriving at the CRC.

Can the accepted items under the permit(s) change?

We reserve the right to amend the list of materials that the permit allows you to recycle, upon giving not less than 14 days notice. Businesses will be emailed with any changes.

Where do I dispose of large quantities of waste?

If your business has a large quantity of waste that is over the daily limit of a CRC then you should either arrange for a kerbside collection or dispose of your waste at the weighbridge facility, they will be charged separately each time that they use these services. See our website for information on the services we offer.

What are the terms and conditions of the Permit?

You will find the terms and conditions of the Permit on our website.

What happens if my Permit is lost/damaged/stolen?

Unfortunately permits are non-refundable.

Who do I contact if I have been turned away at my local CRC?

If you have been turned away from a site please contact the Trade Waste team.

My business is based outwith the Scottish Borders, can I apply for a permit?

Permits are intended for businesses registered in the Scottish Borders area, however companies carrying out work in our area can purchase a permit by contacting us to discuss.

What is a Duty of Care, Waste Transfer Note?

As a business, you have a legal responsibility and duty of care to ensure that you produce, store, transport and dispose of your business waste without harming the environment. You are responsible for your waste until you have transferred it to an authorised person.

You must segregate, store and transport your waste appropriately and securely, making sure that you do not cause any pollution or harm to human health and check that your waste is transported and handled by people or businesses that are authorised to do so.

The Duty of Care legislation requires that all transfers of waste are appropriately recorded, in the form of a Waste Transfer Note, in order to assist in tracking movements of waste. The permit and attached tickets constitute a Waste Transfer Note for Duty of Care purposes.

Can someone borrow my permit if they are another business and/or a friend of mine?

No, the permit acts as a duty of care and permission to access the CRC only for the business that has purchased it.

I have not received my permit, what’s happened?

Phone Trade Waste on 0300 100 1800 we will look into this for you.