People using Altrincham’s household waste recycling centre will need to prove they live in Greater Manchester from the New Year, under new rules aimed at stopping out-of-area dumping.
Woodhouse Lane Recycling Centre, off Sinderland Road, is one of 20 tips run by Recycle for Greater Manchester.
From January 2027, visitors will be asked for proof of address - with a driver’s licence preferred, or other photo ID plus documents such as a utility bill.
The change covers sites across nine Greater Manchester boroughs, including Trafford. Wigan’s tips are not part of the scheme and already run their own residency checks.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) says the soft checks are being brought in because tip closures in neighbouring areas - including Cheshire - have pushed more people to use Greater Manchester sites for free.
A GMCA report noted an uplift in visits at Adswood tip in Stockport after three Cheshire tips closed in 2024.
At first, people without proof will not be turned away but will be reminded to bring it next time. GMCA and operator Suez will monitor how the checks work, and can ease off if queues build up.
GMCA recorded more than 4.7 million tip visits in 2025 from more than a million unique vehicles. It is also looking at longer-term options such as number-plate checks linked to DVLA data, or a vehicle registration scheme similar to the existing van permit system.
