We are unable to accept fridges or freezers at the Household Recycling Centre (tip) Shidas Lane, Oldbury until further notice. More information available below.
The tip on Shidas Lane in Oldbury is open every day 8am - 4pm except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. From 1 June - 30 September it is open 7am -4pm.
Visits to the tip are by pre-booked appointment only.
Only Sandwell residents are permitted to use the tip. if you do not have a Sandwell postcode you will not be able to book.
Please note: the tip does get extremely busy during peak times such as bank holidays and weekends. If your preferred time/date is not available please keep checking for other available slots.
You must make a booking for every visit you make to the tip.
You can book appointments up to two weeks in advance and book more than one car tip booking.
Car users without a trailer can now book as many slots as they like.
You can book a visit on the day, up to the last minute, so long as there is availability.
Vans, pick ups or cars with a trailer are limited to one booking once every four weeks. Please secure a van booking slot at the HRC before you hire a van. This restriction does not apply to mobility vans but please note there are a limited number of slots for this type of vehicle (One per hour). Check restrictions on van, trailer and pick up bookings.
Once you have made your appointment, you can amend the date, time or vehicle registration or cancel it up to 630am on the day of your booking.
You will need to bring one piece of identification for the property where the waste has come from along with your booking reference number when you visit, as this may be checked and without it you will be turned away.
You can also make last minute bookings on the day, provided there is a booking slot left. You must bring your booking reference email confirmation with you, if you have made a late booking.
Temporary suspension of fridges and freezers at the Household Recycling Centre (tip)
We are no longer able to accept fridges or freezers at the Household Recycling Centre (tip) until further notice. This issue is affecting councils across the country due to the following reason:
- National processing shortage – a severe UK‑wide shortage of specialist recycling and treatment facilities for cooling appliances means councils across the country cannot send fridges and freezers for safe disposal
What you can do
- Buying a replacement – when purchasing a new appliance, most retailers will take away your old fridge or freezer as part of their delivery service for an additional fee
- Retailers take‑back schemes – many major retailers offer like‑for‑like take‑back services under WEEE regulations. Find out if you qualify by visiting the Recycle your Electricals website*
- Short‑term storage – please keep the appliance stored safely at your property. Unplug, empty and clean the inside. Ensure the doors are kept ajar to prevent odours or mould from developing, if possible, turn it against a wall or remove the doors with a screwdriver. Remember it is essential that you prevent any children or pets from getting trapped inside the fridge.
- Stay updated – updates will be posted on the Sandwell Council website
*Please note – external links are provided for general information only. Sandwell Council is not responsible for third‑party websites or any services they offer.
Sorting you rubbish and where to put it
To make your visit quicker, please separate the different types of rubbish or recycling before you get to the tip.
Remember that most items can be recycled rather than putting them in the general waste container.
Please see the list below to see where the different containers are located. There are clear signs on the skips, but if you can’t see the one you need, please ask one of the site operatives. For a full list of what you can take to the site.
On the right hand side as you drive in – these are the smaller containers and cages in front of the staff Portakabin
- Engine oil (limit 5 litres)
- Vegetable oil
- Florescent tubes and energy saving light bulbs (limit 10 tubes)
- Gas bottles (not small "disposable" helium balloon cylinders - these will need to be emptied and placed in the scrap metal bay after all excess gas is released) Two bottles maximum per month
- Car batteries
- Household batteries
- Vapes
On the right side past the staff Portakabin – these are the lowered skips behind the railings:
- Wood
- Scrap metal
- Garden Waste
- Cardboard
- Carpets
- Plasterboard (eight bags or 200kg maximum per month)
- Soil and ceramics (eight bags or 200kg maximum per month)
- Hard-core and rubble (eight bags or 200kg maximum per month)
- Mattresses
- Fridges
- Freezers
- Asbestos (non-trade only, see the asbestos removal page for details of procedure to be followed)
- Tyres (4 non-commercial vehicle tyres maximum per month)
- UPVC doors and window frames
- Non-ferrous metals
- General waste/black bagged waste
On the left hand side - these are the ground level skips and containers
- Small electrical items
- Textiles and clothing
- Plastic bottles
- Cans
- TVs
- Paper
- Sheet glass
- Glass bottles
- Reusable household items (furniture / small electricals / bric-a-brac) – place in mobile van or make staff aware if van not onsite. Alternatively, book a reusable item collection with Community Transport
If you are bringing plaster or other dusty materials to the tip, put it in sealed bags before you get to the site and dispose of the whole bag without opening it.
Please note that site staff may refuse access to anyone if there is reasonable suspicion that the waste brought to the site is from a business activity or of a type that cannot be accepted at the site.
Trade or business waste
We do not accept any trade or business waste.
Landlords and other businesses are strictly prohibited from using the centre and all waste deposited at the site is monitored.
See information about trade waste collections for further details.
CCTV and body-worn cameras
Please note that CCTV is in operation at the tip and staff are fitted with body-worn cameras at all times.
The use of these devices is for public and staff safety and to help investigate complaints and incidents which may happen on site.
There are signs advertising camera usage and all data recorded is treated in line with current General Data Protection Regulations.
If members of the public wish to view footage taken of them, they can request it in writing to the Waste Transfer Station Manager, Serco Ltd, Shidas Lane, Oldbury, B69 2BP. It must be within 31 days before the footage is deleted from the system.