There is no longer a paper van permit for the St Helens tips. Instead, anyone taking household rubbish in a van, a large trailer or a car with the rear seats removed must book a free appointment through Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, which runs the three recycling centres in the borough. Turn up in a bookable vehicle without one and you will be turned away.
The Three St Helens Tips
| Site | Address | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|
| Town Centre (Ravenhead) | Burtonhead Road, WA9 5EA | 8am to 8pm April to September, 8am to 5pm October to March |
| Newton-le-Willows | Junction Lane, WA12 8DN | 8am to 8pm April to September, 8am to 5pm October to March |
| Rainhill | Tasker Terrace, L35 4NX | Weekdays as above; Saturday 9am to 6pm (5pm in winter); Sunday 9am to 3pm |
All three close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, and all three take vans with a booking. Only Ravenhead has a pedestrian gate, and only Ravenhead takes paint.
Which Vehicles Need a Booking
Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority sets the same booking rules for every site in Merseyside, and booking is free.
| Vehicle | Booking needed |
|---|---|
| A car, or a car towing a trailer under 2 metres | No |
| A pick-up with a crew cab (4 or 5 seats) | No |
| A van of any size, owned or hired | Yes |
| A trailer 2 to 3 metres long | Yes |
| An estate, hatchback or 4x4 with rear seats removed or blanked-out windows | Yes |
| A single-cab pick-up | Yes |
| A vehicle over 3.5 tonnes, or a trailer over 3 metres | Not allowed in at all |
How Booking Works
- You must live in St Helens, Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton or Wirral.
- Create an account on the MRWA booking portal, then book the site and the day. Questions go to 0151 255 1444.
- Book at least a day ahead. Next-day bookings close at 4pm, and there are no same-day bookings.
- There is no time slot. You can arrive any time the site is open that day, but you still queue.
- Each household gets 12 van or large-trailer visits a year, garden waste included.
- A hire van needs a booking like any other, and you must show the hire documents at the gate.
What You Cannot Take
Household recycling centres are for household waste only. Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority treats waste you pay someone else to remove as trade waste, which means the person you pay cannot take it to the tip for you. Staff can question where a load came from and refuse entry even with a booking, and the sites use number plate cameras.
That rule matters when you hire help. If you pay for a man and van rubbish collection, the collector has to take the waste to a licensed commercial site, not the household tip, and should be registered to carry it. If they say they will just drop it at the tip, they cannot, and that is how householders end up fined for fly-tipped waste.
Cement-bonded asbestos from a household is not taken at any St Helens site, according to St Helens Council. It goes by appointment to Huyton, Bidston or Southport, booked through Veolia.
What the 2026 Consultation Could Change
Between 11 August and 22 September 2026, the authority consulted on the future of Merseyside's recycling centres. It proposed four changes:
- Access for Merseyside residents only, with proof of address checked on arrival.
- An annual visit limit for everyone, not only vans.
- A booking for every visit, including cars.
- Separating recyclable from non-recyclable waste before you arrive.
No outcome had been published by October 2026. The authority's FAQ says changes are not planned before its new contract starts in June 2029, though trials could come sooner if its members agree. Residents will keep using the sites free of charge.
When the Tip Is Not the Answer
With no car, no van booking left this year, or a sofa that will not fit in a hatchback, the council bulky waste collection takes a few large items from the kerb for a fee, and a licensed collector can take larger loads from inside the house.
Facts and charges in this guide were checked against the sources linked above on 20 October 2026. Council charges and rules change, so check the linked page before you rely on a figure. More St Helens moving and clearance guides.