Household waste recycling centres (tips)

Locations and opening times

We have two Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs or tips) in Bristol. There are also many smaller recycling centres across the city.

Our Household Waste Recycling Centres are located in:

• St Philips (map), Folly Lane, off Days Road, St Philips, Bristol, BS2 0QS.
• Avonmouth (map), Kings Weston Lane, Avonmouth, Bristol, BS11 0YS.

Both open every day from:

• 8am until 6.45pm (1 April to 27 October).
• 8am until 4.15pm (28 October to 31 March).

Both Household Waste Recycling Centres are closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January.

We would advise you to arrive at least ten minutes before we close to give you enough time to unload your recycling and waste.

What we take

Both our household waste recycling centres provide recycling facilities for:

• Books, DVDs and CDs.
• Car batteries and domestic batteries.
• Cardboard.
• Domestic refrigerators and freezers.
• Foil.
• Glass bottles and jars.
• Green waste from gardens.
• Hard plastic (for example, old toys, household items, drainpipes).
• Household electrical appliances (large and small, known as 'WEEE').
• Household furniture.
• Paper and magazines.
• Plastic bottles.
• Rubble and soil.
• Scrap metal.
• Shoes, clothes and textiles.
• Shredded paper.
• Spectacles.
• Televisions and monitors.
• Tin cans.
• Used engine oil.
• Wood waste.

There are also facilities for the disposal of hazardous household waste, and items which cannot be recycled. Please review our information on hazardous household waste as we need to be advised of some items before you arrive, or you may be turned away.

Please note the following:

• To save time, please sort all of your recyclables and waste before visiting the centres.
• These are centres for householders to take their rubbish for recycling or disposal to landfill. They are not for use by businesses.
• Please be aware that a permit scheme is operated at both centres and affects householders using a van, pick-up or towing a trailer over 1.52metres (5 feet). For more information, please visit our Household Waste Recycling Centres permit scheme page.
• There is a height restriction of 2.4m at both Household Waste Recycling Centres, for more information please contact customer services centre on 0117 922 2100.
• We would advise that children under 16 years of age remain in vehicles for their own health and safety.
• There is currently no pedestrian access to the household waste recycling centres.

Changes to Bristol’s Household Waste Recycling Centres

Bristol’s Avonmouth and St Philips Household Waste Recycling Centres have made changes to the way they operate.

The changes will help us to:

• Make our Household Waste Recycling Centres more user friendly and to reduce congestion.
• Control the costs to council taxpayers for recycling and waste disposal.
• Fund the operation of the new Household Waste Recycling Centre in South Bristol.

What changes have been made?

Limits on DIY and construction waste

The number of bags of DIY and construction waste brought to our Household Waste Recycling Centres by residents carrying out home projects are now limited to one car boot load or six 25kg bags per visit or per week, whichever is the less. This type of waste is classed as industrial waste even if it is generated at home, which means that we do not have a statutory responsibility to accept it. By limiting how much people can dispose of will bring us in line with other local authorities and ensure that it is a service for Bristol residents only, rather than traders trying to dispose of their waste for free.

Examples of DIY and construction materials are:

• Hardcore rubble and bricks.
• Concrete slabs.
• Plasterboard.
• Roofing materials.
• Soil.

Only three sheets of bonded asbestos will be accepted per visit or per week, whichever is the less. All asbestos must be double wrapped and sealed with tape.

Checking visitors are Bristol residents

Spot checks will be used at our Household Waste Recycling Centres to ensure all users are Bristol residents. A driving licence, a recent utility bill or council tax bill will be accepted as proof of residence. CCTV will also help in maintaining safety for both visitors and staff.  It is estimated that around 20% of visitors are from outside of Bristol. Making sure our Household Waste Recycling Centres are only used by Bristol residents will reduce queues and save money.

Changes to the permit scheme

We have made improvements to the permit scheme that affects vans, pick ups and trailers over 5ft in length to make sure that permit holders are using their vehicles to dispose of household waste only.

We have also introduced designated times for when permit holders can visit our Household Waste Recycling Centres to help reduce congestion.

Permit holders can use our Household Waste Recycling Centres on the following days of the week during normal opening hours:

• Tuesday.
• Wednesday.
• Thursday.
• Saturday.

No permit users or hire vans are able to use the facilities on a Sunday, Monday or Friday and the existing height restriction of 2.4 metres still applies.

Permit holders need to provide a copy of their vehicles V5 registration document, driving licence and one recent utility or council tax bill when they apply for a permit.

Disabled access

If you require assistance at either of our HWRCs, please ask a member of staff who will be more than happy to help. Please note, St Philips is on a level and there are no steps.

Feedback form

Please use the household waste recycling centres feedback form to send us any feedback you may have.