Bristol Waste Reuse and Recycling Centres
Visit our reuse and recycling centres to responsibly dispose of household waste.
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
St Philips: Mon, Tues, Weds, Sat, Sun
Closed: 25 and 26 Dec and 1 January
9am – 5pm on weekdays, 8am – 4pm on Saturdays and 10am – 6pm on Sundays.
Remember to book your visit online.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. A £30 refundable deposit is required when you collect the trailer. Deposits can be paid in cash or by card.
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.
Taking asbestos to the recycling centre
We will only accept three sheets or three 25kg bags of bonded asbestos per visit, or per week, whichever is the less.
All asbestos must be double wrapped in heavy-duty polythene and sealed with tape.
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
St Philips Reuse and Recycling Centre
Folly Lane, off Days Road
St Philips
Bristol
BS2 0QS
Avonmouth Reuse and Recycling Centre
Kings Weston Lane
Avonmouth
Bristol
BS11 0YS
What can you bring to a recycling centre?
Batteries
Cardboard
Florescent tubes and low-energy bulbs
Glass bottles and jars
Glasses (spectacles)
Green waste from residential gardens
Hard plastic (for example old toys, household items, drainpipes)
Oil (used engine oil and cooking oil)
Containers no bigger than 5 litres
Paper and magazines
Plastic bottles
Refrigerators and freezers
Rubble and soil
Scrap metal
Shoes, clothes and textiles
Shredded paper
Tin cans and foil
Wood waste
Carpets
DIY and construction waste
DIY waste charges remain in place at the Household Reuse and Recycling Centres. The Government has not set a date for when DIY charges will be removed but we expect it to be later this year.
There is no limit to the amount of DIY and construction waste you can bring to the site; however, rules around ‘fair usage’ and no commercial waste remain.
The charges for the disposal of DIY waste:
- £2.90 per sack of rubble, soil etc (full details here)
- £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 will be able to pay online when booking your recycling centre visit.
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.
Yes, you can bring DIY waste to the recycling centre. A charge for the disposal of DIY waste does apply. The charges are as follows:
£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.
You will be able to pay online when booking your recycling centre visit. There is no maximum number of DIY waste bags you can bring to 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 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.
The disposal of DIY waste at the recycling centres will be payable online when booking your recycling centre visit.
The charges are as follows:
- £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.
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.