How to use your ePass
When you visit
After you apply for your car ePass, it will be instantly available for you to use. An ePass reference number is allocated against your vehicle registration number and address. We'll email you confirmation details – you don't need to print or display anything in your vehicle.
You don't need to book before you visit.
When you arrive at the recycling centre, your vehicle registration number will be read by an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera and the system will check that you have an ePass. Site staff will have handheld devices to use and will log that you have made a visit.
Please bring proof of address with you when you visit. (for example, your driving licence or a utility bill). We may check your proof of address with your ePass.
How long your ePass lasts
The car ePass is valid for 3 years. There are no restrictions on the number of visits allowed against your car ePass.
A household can have up to 2 ePasses at a time. Hertfordshire residents can register for either 2 car ePasses or 1 car ePass and 1 van and trailer permit.
Edit your ePass details
Edit / view the details of your ePass
You can update your:
- home address
- vehicle registration number
- email address.
Having trouble? Contact us
Terms, conditions and privacy
Vehicle and waste restrictions
Your ePass is only valid with certain vehicles.
Vehicles you can use
- Cars
- 4x4s
- Wheelchair accessible / adapted vehicles.
All seats must be upright.
Hired cars – you'll need to bring a car ePass, proof of address and proof of your hire agreement on every visit or you won't be allowed to tip your waste. ePasses for hired vehicles are valid for 7 days.
Vehicles you can't use
- Caravanettes
- Minibuses
- Pickup trucks
- Vans
- Camper vans
- Vehicles with trailers
- Vehicles with 8 seats or more
- Vehicles with rear seats, seat belts or fittings removed (this is considered to be adapted for commercial use).
Waste restrictions
- DIY waste – read our restrictions before you visit or you may be turned away.
- Waste from businesses, charities or other organisations won't be accepted. Use our commercial waste service.
- There are no height restrictions at any of our centres.
Terms and conditions
Terms and conditions
- This ePass remains the property of Hertfordshire County Council (HCC).
- Hertfordshire recycling centres are for Hertfordshire residents to dispose of their own household waste only. Residents visiting a centre must hold a valid ePass.
- The recycling centre site customer rules must be adhered to at all times. Failure to do so may result in your ePass being revoked.
- When requesting an ePass, you will be required to agree to these legally binding terms and conditions of the ePass scheme.
- The ePass is valid for 3 years from the date of issue.
- A household may hold up to 2 ePasses at a time. Hertfordshire residents will be able to register for either 2 car ePasses or 1 car ePass and 1 van and trailer permit.
- The details held on your ePass must match the registration of the vehicle you are driving.
- Residents of Cambridgeshire and Essex may only visit Hertfordshire recycling centres in a car. Van ePasses, which also permit the use of a car towing a trailer, are available only to Hertfordshire residents and will not be issued to Cambridgeshire or Essex residents.
- We will not tolerate any verbal, physical abuse or bullying towards any of our site staff. Our enforcement policy sets out what action we will take when visitors behave inappropriately.
- An ePass does not entitle the holder to bring unlimited amounts of construction, demolition and excavation (DIY) material to the sites. Please make yourself familiar with our construction and demolition waste policy before you load your vehicle.
- Limited amounts of bonded white (chrysotile) household asbestos are accepted by booking only at Welwyn Garden City and Ware recycling centres. This service is for household asbestos disposal only and does not permit the disposal of any other type of asbestos or any business or trade waste.
- Waste will be checked upon arrival and the site operators have the right to turn away anyone suspected of bringing commercial, industrial or excessive DIY waste on to site.
- You may be asked to sign a waste declaration ticket to confirm the waste is from your own home.
- The site manager reserves the right to refuse a tip if it does not comply with the construction and demolition policy or if the material is suspected as being commercial waste. The site manager’s decision is final.
- Our ePass is not valid for commercial use and business addresses will not be accepted.
- Vehicles wishing to deliver charity or voluntary group waste cannot apply for an ePass under the ePass scheme.
- The ePass must not be copied, changed or defaced in any manner. If it is, your ePass may be revoked.
- If you change your address or vehicle, you must update your details online. If you are the owner of a new property or vehicle where the ePass is still registered to the previous owner, contact wasteaware@hertfordshire.gov.uk with proof of ownership.
- Recycling centres operate an automatic number plate recognition scheme and are monitored by CCTV and Body Worn Video cameras. For more details see our WasteAware strategy.
- There is no specific limit on the number of occasions that the centres may be visited however the council may investigate instances where the frequency of visits and / or the quantity and types of waste presented are such that it is reasonably questionable whether the waste presented is both household and from the holder’s own residence. Data recorded in the electronic ePass and ANPR systems may be used for this purpose.
- HCC reserves the right to withdraw individual ePasses in cases of misuse and abuse by the holder. HCC will notify you of its decision in writing to the address given at the time of application.
- HCC reserves the right to amend the operation of the recycling centre ePass scheme, including these terms and conditions at any time without notice.
How we use your data
By completing the ePass form, you give consent for Hertfordshire County Council to use the information that you shared with us to administer your ePass.
Your information will only be used for this purpose and will only be held for the lifetime of the ePass and 12 months after your ePass expires.
The personal data requested are:
- name
- address
- email address
- phone number
- vehicle registration
- vehicle make, model and type
- if the vehicle is owned or hired.
This information is required for ePass verification purposes. This will also allow the user have access to their information and update when needed.
Your rights