Household Waste Recycling Centres

There are five Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in Bedfordshire where householders can recycle and dispose of their household waste. These sites are provided for householders only and are not for trade/commercial users . These are located in Ampthill, Bedford, Biggleswade, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard.

Opening Times

All sites are open seven days a week:

1 September - 30 April - opening hours are 0900-1700 
1 May - 31 August - opening hours are extended to 0900-1900

(Please arrive 10 minutes before closing time as no waste will be accepted after that time)

Sites are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day and close early at 1300 on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve

What they can accept

• Glass bottles and jars
• Cardboard (including corrugated cardboard)
• Green garden waste
• Wood
• Newspaper and paper
• Aluminium cans
• Books for reuse (available at Ampthill and Bedford only)
• Textiles
• Scrap metal
• White goods
• Car and household batteries
• Used engine oil
• Gas cylinders
• Paint
• Cartons (for example Juice, milk and soup)
• Fridges and freezers (You will need a permit)
• Tyres

What they cannot accept

• Asbestos
• Trade/commercial waste
• Hazardous waste
• Sectioned trees (with a girth larger than 30cm)
• Unsectioned conifers/ trees 
• Animal Bedding and faeces

Please note that Trade/ commercial waste includes waste generated by a builder/ gardener/ glazier or other tradesman working in a domestic property. The cost of waste removal should be included in their quote.

Only small quantities of DIY/ demolition waste such as soil, brick, rubble, doors and windows will be accepted, even if from your own home. It may be advisable to hire a skip.

Please call Bedfordshire County Council for advice on the waste acceptance policy and check whether you need a permit or read the waste acceptance policy below.

For safety reasons please keep children and pets in cars and ask site staff if you need any assistance

Please note that any waste left outside the gates of the sites will be regarded as fly tipping and individuals caught doing so could be liable for prosecution.

Permits

A permit to use the Household Waste Recycling Centre is needed for DIY waste or if you are using anything other than a car e.g. van, pick-up, or large trailer. Permits are free and need to be requested by calling 01234 276386. Please allow 2-3 days for the permit to arrive. You will need to take your permit with you when you visit the site.

DIY waste examples below

Maximum 6 items

• 1 bath tub
• 1 toilet pan
• 1 cistern
• 1 wash basin
• 1 watertank
• 1 standard door
• 1 kitchen worktop (maximum length 1.5 metres)
• 1 kitchen unit
• 1 window frame
• 1 tree stump (maximum 100mm diamter)
• 1 fence panel and post
• 1 sack (100 litres) of soil or rubble
• 2 sacks (100 litre sacks) of other DIY waste e.g. Tiles.

Sites

Ampthill| (new window)
Abbey Lane
off Oliver Street
MK45 2SA 

Tel: (01525) 403611

Bedford| (new window)
Barkers Lane
MK41 9SB

Tel: (01234) 354917

Biggleswade| (new window)
Bells Brook
SG18 0NA 
Tel: (01767) 313684

Dunstable| (new window)
Frenchs Avenue
LU6 1BH 

Tel: (01582) 609212

Leighton Buzzard| (new window)
Shenley Hill
LU7 3BT 

Tel: (01525) 371619