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

Open every day from:

• 8am until 6.45pm (26 March to 30 October)
• 8am until 4.15pm (31 October to 25 March)

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
• 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 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 1.52m (5ft).
• There is a height restiction 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.

Who needs a permit?

If you are using a van, pick-up or towing a trailer over 1.52m (5ft) in length to either of our household waste recycling centres you will require a permit to gain access. 

Please note:

• Special restrictions apply to vehicles over 2.4 metres high, please call us on 0117 922 2100 to discuss. 

Permit request form

To apply only for your permit please complete the permit request form.

How the Permit Scheme operates

1. Only one permit will be issued per vehicle.

2. Only one permit will be issued per household.

3. Permits will be issued free of charge.

4. Permits will allow holders to use the site up to 12 times a year.

5. Permits will be valid for 12 months, effective from the date of issue.

6. Permits will be punched on each site visit as a tally and measure of use.

7. If a permit is lost, a replacement will be sent with visits deducted to show the number of months that have passed since your first permit was issued.

8. Permits are not transferable.

9. The Council will update permits free of charge in relation to a change of vehicle or change of address.

10. If you have a legitimate need to use the site more often, then the Council will, upon application by the permit holder, consider extending its use, depending on circumstances. Please ring 0117 922 2100 for details.

11. Bristol City Council reserves the right to withdraw, modify or suspend the permit system at any time without notice, although every endeavour will be made to provide reasonable notice.

12. The Council reserves the right to investigate permit use and if necessary to withdraw individual permits, in case of misuse or abuse.

13. The use of a van and trailer together will constitute as 2 visits to the site.

14. Hire vans less than 2.4m in height will only be allowed into the sites with evidence of a hire agreement and a utility bill (or similar address bearing document), relating to the resident.  You do not require a permit for hire vehicles.

15. Vehicles with hire agreements for more than three days will not be accepted.

16. If the sole source of transport is a large van or pick-up over 2.4m in height, you will need to use our Avonmouth Centre on a Saturday morning only between 8.30am and 11.00am.

17. Permit holders are to ensure that the permit is shown to the attendant when visiting the HWRC.

18. Staff are authorised to refuse entry if the permit is not produced when requested.

Feedback form

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