New ID rules at tips spark fly-tipping fears

New rules requiring people using Greater Manchester's tips to prove they live in the region are to be rolled out from January, despite concerns that it could lead to fly tipping and long "passport-style" queues.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority's (GMCA) new system is being brought in amid fears that dump closures in neighbouring counties are pushing people to travel to Greater Manchester and use its recycling centres for free.

Councillor Peter Crossen said he feared "passport-style queues at tips", while councillor David Meller said he was concerned it could increase fly-tipping.

The GMCA has been approached for comment.

The new system will require anyone trying to dump rubbish at a tip to show a driver's licence or other document confirming they live at a local address.

Crossen, Conservative councillor for Bramhall South and Woodford, said: "All you're going to be doing is encouraging passport-style queues at tips, and it is going to lead to frustration."

He said his initial thought was that "it's a bit of bureaucratic nonsense essentially".

He said he was also concerned about the impact it would have on staff at refuse centres.

Meller, Labour councillor for Cheadle East and Cheadle Hulme North, said: "If it makes it a little more of a rigmarole to access a tip then my worry is whether it's going to increase fly-tipping in areas, and I think there's a fine balance with this that we need to be careful of.

"But equally, we don't want the system to be abused by those coming from well outside the borough and using our tips because then ultimately we're paying for other people's waste."

Levenshulme resident, Pat Walsh, who lives close to the recycling centre on Sandfold Lane said: "I'd be worried if it discourages people from using the tip because there's already a major issue in terms of fly-tipping."

Jeremy Hoad, also from Levenshulme, said: "They may say it's a casual check to make sure you're from the area, but there are people who will go 'well I can't be bothered with that, I'll just put it in a back alley instead'."

A GMCA report about the new rules stated that the change is expected to begin in January, with an initial soft launch, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

During the initial introduction of the checks, people will not be turned away for not having proof of their address, the GMCA report said, but they will be issued a reminder to bring proof on their next trip.

Greater Manchester's household waste recycling centres are free to use for residents living in any boroughs, apart from Wigan, which are part of the Greater Manchester waste disposal authority.

Wigan already operates a system whereby residents must provide proof of their address in the borough in order to use its recycling centres.

The GMCA's report said driving licences would be the favoured proof of address but other specified forms of photo ID would be accepted, alongside documents such as utility bills.

The GMCA report stated that Greater Manchester "experienced an uplift of visitor numbers" to a tip in Adswood, Stockport, after the closure of three tips in Cheshire in 2024.

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