Bristol Waste Reuse and Recycling Centres

Visit our reuse and recycling centres to responsibly dispose of household waste.

flare-blue

Visiting Bristol's Reuse and Recycling Centres

Bristol has three Reuse and Recycling Centres in Avonmouth, St Philips and Hartcliffe Way. To visit one of the centres, you need to book in advance online or by phone. If you’re taking your van to the recycling centre, you will need a permit.

Please remember to bring identification or proof of address when attending your booking or when visiting the Hartcliffe Way Reuse and Recycling Centre as a pedestrian.

Smaller recycling centres can be found using Bristol City Council’s recycling centre finder.

Recycling centres opening times

Avonmouth: Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat, Sun
Hartcliffe Way: Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun
(Hartcliffe Way is currently not accepting engine oil)
St Philips: Mon, Tues, Weds, Sat, Sun

9am – 5pm on weekdays, 8am – 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Remember to book your visit online.

Book now
The side of the Reuse Shop in Hartcliffe Way

Reuse Shop Opening times

The Reuse Shops are be open from 12pm – 4pm on days each recycling centre is open.

  • Avonmouth Reuse Shop: Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat, Sun
  • Hartcliffe Way – Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun
  • St Philips – Mon, Tues, Weds, Sat, Sun
Reuse Shop

ID and proof of address required

You must present valid ID confirming Bristol residency to use the recycling centres. Cyclists at all sites and pedestrians accessing the Hartcliffe Way Reuse and Recycling Centre on foot must also present ID.

A Bristol Waste crew member checking ID of a driver entering the recycling centre

Accepted ID combinations

  • Photo ID and Bristol City Council tax bill
  • Photo ID and utility bill with a Bristol address
  • Student ID card identifying you as a Bristol student
A smiling woman shows her ID through her car window whilst giving a thumbs up with her other hand

Officially recognised photo ID

  • Driving license, including international driving licenses
  • Passport
  • National Union of Students (NUS) card
  • European Economic Area (EEA) member state ID card
  • Construction Identity Scheme (CIS) card

If you’re unable to provide photo ID please email hwrc.enquiries@bristolwastecompany.co.uk

White van in Avonmouth Recycling Centre

Permits for vans, pickups and towed trailers

If you are a Bristol householder with a van, pick-up or towing a trailer over 1.52 metres (5 feet) in length will need to apply for a permit to access either of our sites. Business waste cannot be taken to our recycling centres.

 

Apply for a permit
The entrance to a recycling centre with a hight restriction of 2.4 meters

Vehicles over 2.4m in height

Hartcliffe Way Recycling Centre is accessible to vehicles over 2.4m high throughout the week.

Avonmouth Recycling Centre is not accessible to vehicles over 2.4m high.

St Philips Recycling Centre is not accessible to vehicles over 2.4m high.

Sort your waste before arriving

Sorting your waste before arriving makes it easier to unload and get materials into the correct bays.

Anyone arriving with bags of general waste may be encouraged to sort the bag on site to ensure all recyclable materials are removed first. A table and boxes are provided on site to sort the waste, and hand sanitiser and spray are available to keep the area clean and safe.

A sorting station at the recycling centre. There is a table and boxes for people to check their bags of general waste for recyclables.

Recycling Centre maps

Use the maps to organise the waste in your car in order of the bins at the recycling centres.

The material bays will be clearly labelled on site and if you’re unsure you can ask a member of staff to point you in the right direction.

Book to use a recycling centre
The side of the Reuse Shop in Hartcliffe Way

Can your items be reused?

All recycling centres have reuse drop-off points. The Reuse Shops at Avonmouth and Hartcliffe Way also accept donations during their opening hours (9am-4pm). We’ll take electrical items, furniture, decorative products, DIY tools and much more!

Support a good cause

The money raised in the Reuse Shop is used to support operations, whilst a third of the profit is donated to charity. In addition, some working computers will be used in the Digital Inclusion Scheme to help disadvantaged Bristol residents access employment and education.

Visit our Reuse Shops

Cycling to the recycling centres

You can ride a bike into all three of Bristol’s recycling centres. You don’t need to book your visit in advance, but you will need to bring ID and proof of your Bristol address. If there is a queue, please join behind the other road users.

Trailer hire

Bike trailer hire is available from our Hartcliffe Way Reuse and Recycling Centre to transport your waste and recycling to the site. You can also use the trailer to take any items you buy from the reuse shop home with you.

A photo of a bike trailer attached to the back wheel of a bike

Hartcliffe Way bike trailer hire

You will need to book if you want to borrow a bike trailer from Hartcliffe Way Reuse and Recycling Centre.

Booking is quick and easy, and we will confirm your booking within 2-3 working days. Please note: the working days for Hartcliffe Way Reuse Shop are Wednesday to Sunday.

£30 refundable deposit is required when you collect the trailer. Deposits can be paid in cash or by card.

Book a bike trailer

Disposing of hazardous waste

You can bring hazardous waste, including asbestos, to a household waste recycling centre where we’ll dispose of it safely. We take all typical household hazardous waste, including thermometers, liquids, chemicals, petrol, medicines, paints and flares.

Asbestos on a garage roof

Taking asbestos to the recycling centre

All asbestos must be double-wrapped in heavy-duty polythene and sealed with tape.

Asbestos counts as a bulky item at Bristol’s recycling centres.

We allow one bulky item (a sheet of asbestos or the equivalent in a bag) a week to be disposed of at Bristol’s recycling centres. Any more than one bulky item is chargeable.

Bagged asbestos must not be mixed with any other waste. We can only accept cement-bonded asbestos and will not accept unwrapped asbestos.

Our site locations

2866
2159
2860

Hartcliffe Way Reuse and Recycling Centre

83 Hartcliffe Way
Bristol
BS3 5RN

Get directions >

St Philips Reuse and Recycling Centre

Folly Lane, off Days Road
St Philips
Bristol
BS2 0QS

0117 304 9580

Get directions >

Avonmouth Reuse and Recycling Centre

Kings Weston Lane
Avonmouth
Bristol
BS11 0YS

0117 304 9580

Get directions >

What can you bring to a recycling centre?

Batteries icon

Batteries

Cardboard

Florescent tubes and low-energy bulbs

Glass bottles and jars

Glass bottles and jars

Glasses

Glasses (spectacles)

Garden waste

Green waste from residential gardens

Hard plastic (for example old toys, household items, drainpipes)

Oil

Oil (used engine oil and cooking oil)

Containers no bigger than 5 litres

Paper

Paper and magazines

Plastic bottles

Plastic bottles

Fridge freezer

Refrigerators and freezers

Rubble and soil

Rubble and soil

Scrap metal

Scrap metal

Shoes

Shoes, clothes and textiles

Shredded paper

Foil

Tin cans and foil

Wooden palette

Wood waste

Carpet

Carpets

DIY and construction waste

As of 1 January 2024, Bristol residents can dispose of some household DIY waste for free at one of our recycling centres.

You can bring up to one load per week over a four week period of the following:

  • up to 100 litres of loose waste, such as rubble or soil. This must be contained within two 50-litre rubble bags (or bags of equivalent size).

OR

  • any bulky or fitted item, like a sink or pedestal, no larger than 2m x 0.75m x 0.7m.

Any waste exceeding these allowances will be charged at the following rates:

  • £2.90 per sack of loose waste such as rubble or soil (full details)
  • £4.50 per sheet or bag of clean plasterboard
  • £9.50 for a bag of plasterboard with other materials attached
  • £11 per bag/sheet of asbestos

You can pay at the time of booking on the Bristol City Council website. 

Soil and rubble sign at Avonmouth Reuse and Recycling Centre

Examples of DIY and construction materials

  • Hardcore rubble and bricks, concrete slabs
  • Plasterboard
  • Roofing materials
  • Soil
  • Any waste mixed with other DIY or construction waste
  • Asbestos

We will only accept separated soil and rubble at the site. Please ensure you separate them as they will be refused if mixed with other waste.

What if you cannot get to the recycling centre?

Do you have usable furniture to donate?

Some charity organisations collect large, fit-for-purpose items for free so they can be reused. There are numerous charities in Bristol that will collect items, a selection of these are listed below. Check out their websites to find out more;

SOFA Project
Emmaus Bristol
Happytat
Sue Ryder
British Heart Foundation

Please be aware leaving items out on the kerbside or street can be considered illegal fly-tipping and you could be prosecuted.

Do you have bulky items that you cannot get to the recycling centre?

Book a paid for bulky waste collection through Bristol City Council’s website using the link below.

Recycling Centres FAQ

The Reuse and Recycling Centres operated by Bristol Waste Company can only be used by residents living within the Bristol City Council area to dispose of their waste. Bordering councils have their own facilities, which their residents should be using.

Proof of address will be checked before you can enter the site and should be shown to staff through a closed window. You will need photo ID and a recent bill or student ID. Any vehicle that arrives on site and does not have proof of address will be turned away. To keep queuing to a minimum, please help us by having your proof of address documents ready.

As of 1 January 2024, Bristol residents can dispose of some household DIY waste for free at one of our recycling centres.

You can bring up to one load per week over a four week period of the following:

  • up to 100 litres of loose waste, such as rubble or soil. This must be contained within two 50-litre rubble bags (or bags of equivalent size).

OR

  • any bulky or fitted item, like a sink or pedestal, no larger than 2m x 0.75m x 0.7m.

Any waste exceeding these allowances will be charged at the following rates:

  • £2.90 per sack of loose waste such as rubble or soil (full details)
  • £4.50 per sheet or bag of clean plasterboard
  • £9.50 for a bag of plasterboard with other materials attached
  • £11 per bag/sheet of asbestos

You can pay at the time of booking on the Bristol City Council website. 

 

The new Hartcliffe Way Reuse and Recycling Centre will have a footpath and is the only site you can visit on foot.

You cannot arrive at the Avonmouth or St Philip’s recycling centres on foot. This is primarily for your safety; we want all visits to be in a safe environment and the original recycling centres were designed for vehicle access and not pedestrian access. Large lorries and other vehicles are active on site and unfortunately it is not possible to provide safe access routes or pavements for pedestrians.

You can ride a bike into Bristol’s recycling centres. You will need to bring ID and proof of your Bristol address. If there is a queue, you should join behind the other vehicles.

Please email us – general@bristolwastecompany.co.uk

FAQs for the Reuse and Recycling Centres booking System

You need to book to visit our Reuse and Recycling Centres. Please read the FAQs for further information.

Bookings must be completed online at the council website at www.bristol.gov.uk/bookrecycling. Booking online is quick and easy to complete.

Please note, if you are planning to travel by bicycle or on foot you do not need to book an appointment.

As of 1 January 2024, Bristol residents can dispose of some household DIY waste for free at one of our recycling centres.

You can bring up to one load per week over a four week period of the following:

  • up to 100 litres of loose waste, such as rubble or soil. This must be contained within two 50-litre rubble bags (or bags of equivalent size).

OR

  • any bulky or fitted item, like a sink or pedestal, no larger than 2m x 0.75m x 0.7m.

Any waste exceeding these allowances will be charged at the following rates:

  • £2.90 per sack of soil and rubble
  • £4.50 per sheet or bag of clean plasterboard
  • £9.50 for a bag of plasterboard with other materials attached
  • £11 per bag/sheet of asbestos.

There is no maximum number of DIY waste bags you can dispose of at the recycling centre, however rules around ‘fair usage’ and no commercial waste remain.

Anyone suspected of abusing the residential waste service may be banned from the site.

The disposal of DIY waste at the recycling centres will be payable online when booking your recycling centre visit.

Booking online is the quickest and easiest way to book a slot. People with access issues, or those who are not able to get online can call 0117 922 2100.

You will need to have your home address and the registration number of the vehicle you’re arriving in to hand when calling. Telephone line will be available Monday to Friday between 08:30 to 18:00 (closed 12:00 to 13:30 on Wednesdays).

You can book a slot up to two weeks before your visit, or up to one hour before coming to site. We ask that you only book slots that you plan on using.

You can book up to one hour before your visit.

No. Only people with a pre-booked slot will be able to access to the site. For more information on how to book, please see above.

You must bring photo ID and proof of residence when attending your booked slot.

  • photo ID, travel card, or student ID
  • council tax, utility bill

If you are using the recycling centre to recycle or deposit your waste, you still need to bring ID or proof of address.

There is no limit on how long you have on site. On average people spend 10 to 15 minutes at the Recycling Centres. Please be considerate of others waiting to come on and pre-sort your materials prior to coming on site. This will also make it easier for you when you arrive.

If you are unable find your address, please send the details of the missing address to Address not listed – bristol.gov.uk. Addresses can normally be added within 24 hours of notification

If you are just visiting the shop at Hartcliffe Way or Avonmouth you can access the shop without booking. If you are visiting the Days Road shop you will need to book a slot as the shop is accessed through the Reuse and Recycling Centre.

The donation areas for pre-loved goods are located in the Recycling Centres, so if you are planning to donate, you will need to make a booking.

Slots are available throughout the day and at various sites across the city. If your first choice is not available, try looking at a different time, day, or site. Please note, we only allow people to book two weeks in advance. We restrict the numbers that can book to prevent queues and ensure on site safety.

You will be able to visit the site using a hire vehicle. When booking you will need to select ‘I am using a hire vehicle’ option. This will allow you to proceed with your booking without entering registration plate details. When you arrive on site, you will be asked to present your hire documentation.

There is no limit to the number of times you can visit the site. If you repeatedly fail to show up for your appointments, your access to the site may be restricted. You will receive an automated message via the email you provided to remind you of your booking.

The booking system helps us plan numbers on site, ensure there are no queues and provide a swift and smooth experience for you on site, so please try to be on time. If you arrive late, you may not be able to access the site.

You can cancel your appointment by following the link in your confirmation booking. Please try to cancel with as much notice as possible. If you repeatedly miss your bookings, your access to the site may be restricted. This is to ensure there is good availability for all.

No. As you will have been asked to provide your address and vehicle registration at the time of booking, and on arrival at the site you will need to provide proof of address. For this reason, it is not possible to transfer your appointment to someone else. You will need to cancel your appointment and the other person will need to book with their details.

If you are planning to travel on bike, or on foot, you do not need to make a booking to access the Recycling Centres. We only accept pedestrians at Hartcliffe Way Reuse and Recycling Centre.

Please contact our customer support team general@bristolwastecompany.co.uk.