Cambridgeshire recycling centres: Opening times, booking and alternatives

So you’ve just finished your big clear-out or refurbishment and now you have a giant pile of rubbish to get rid of – but no idea how Cambridgeshire recycling centres work.

Where do you take your household waste in Cambridgeshire? Is it free to dump your waste in one of the county tips? Do you really need to book several appointments before making multiple trips to the local recycling centre (and do you really want to)?

Let’s break down what your options are for getting rid of large amounts of domestic waste in the Cambridgeshire area, as well as another simple alternative to managing it all yourself.

Where to take household waste in Cambridgeshire

Fortunately, there are many recycling centres available in Cambridgeshire operated by local authorities that don’t require a charge to dump your waste.

However, due to the pandemic forcing many recycling centres to close last year, new measures have been put in place to ensure social distancing at sites, including reduced staff availability and the requirement to book an appointment before arriving with your waste (one for each trip if you have a lot of stuff).

Your vehicle may also require an e-permit if it’s a commercial van or towing a trailer longer than 1.5 metres with a capacity of more than 570 litres.

There are nine waste recycling centres open to residents in Cambridgeshire, most of which are run by waste management partner Amey.

These centres manage an incredible 400,000 tonnes of waste every year, which is processed at Waterbeach Waste Management Park (about three miles north of Cambridge). More than 50% of this waste is diverted from landfill using stringent recycling and composting processes.

Cambridgeshire recycling centre opening times

Many recycling centres in Cambridgeshire are open seven days a week, giving residents ample opportunity to find a slot that suits their timetable.

Some sites have separate opening hours for the summer and winter seasons (sites tend to be open a little later from April to September than they are from October to March).

Remember, despite being open most weekends, you must still book a slot at any recycling centre in Cambridge in order for the council to control the number of people entering at any one time (click the link on your local recycling centre below for instructions on how to confirm your appointment).

Here are the opening times for all nine waste recycling centres in Cambridgeshire (NOTE: Cambridgeshire recycling centre opening times were correct at the time of publishing but are subject to change in these uncertain times. It’s best to consult directly with your local Cambridgeshire recycling centre before planning a trip).

Bluntisham Waste Recycling Centre
April to September: 8am-5pm, seven days a week
October to March: 8am-4pm, seven days a week

Alconbury Waste Recycling Centre
April to September: 8am-5pm, seven days a week
October to March: 9am-4pm, seven days a week

Milton Waste Recycling Centre
April to September, Monday to Friday: 9am-8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am-6pm
October to March, Monday to Sunday: 9am-4pm

March Waste Recycling Centre
Monday to Saturday: 8am-4pm
Sunday: 9am-4pm

St Neots Waste Recycling Centre
Monday to Sunday: 8am-6pm

Thriplow Waste Recycling Centre
April to September: 8am-5pm, seven days a week
October to March: 8am-4pm, seven days a week

Whittlesey Waste Recycling Centre
April to September, Monday to Friday: 9am-5pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am-4pm
October to March, Monday to Sunday: 9am-4pm

Wisbech Waste Recycling Centre
Monday to Sunday: 8am-5pm

Witchford Waste Recycling Centre
Monday to Sunday: 9am-6pm
Wednesdays: 9am-7pm

Heading to any of these recycling centres makes sense if there’s a specific item like a bike or TV you need to get rid of, but it’s not the best idea if you’ve got a large amount of bulky waste.

So if cramming all your rubbish into your own vehicle and lugging it down to a recycling centre by yourself is impractical (or impossible with young children in tow or a full-time job blocking out your weekday availability) there is a simpler option for disposing of household waste in Cambridgeshire…

Another solution for household waste recycling in Cambridgeshire

After the pandemic saw more people seizing the opportunity to have a clear-out or get round to that bathroom refurbishment, queues at recycling centres led to many residents being forced to turn around and try again the next day.

And despite the lifting of restrictions, recycling centres in Cambridgeshire still require residents to book an appointment before driving down with a car full of rubbish.

This all adds to the amount of time and effort household waste management takes out of your week, which is already often more than the average person schedules for.

First of all, you’ll need a vehicle that’s big enough to load all your waste into, including any unwieldy items. Then even with a large vehicle, you might find yourself doing several trips to get rid of it all, which can be exacerbated if you have to go at the weekend and there’s a queue to get in.

To take all of this off your plate, you could simply hire yourself a skip and have it taken care of without any of the hassle. If you haven’t got much to get rid of, a small skip of between two and four yards might do the trick, and they don’t take up much space on your property.

Of course, if you have large amounts of waste to dispose of, hiring a skip makes even more sense. And unlike public recycling centres, you can actually speak to someone who’ll be more than happy to help you find the right size skip for your needs.

Why it pays to hire an ethical skip hire company in Cambridgeshire

It may also be tempting to hire a “man and a van” to come and pick your waste up for you, but it’s important to be aware of unscrupulous workers who may have no intention of taking it to an accredited waste management site or even hold a valid waste carrier’s licence.

While this might sound like scaremongering, a couple in Thetford recently found themselves on the wrong side of the law and a whopping £845 fine for trusting an unlicensed waste management firm to handle their clear-out.

In fact, the rise in local fly-tipping has forced Cambridgeshire County Council to reconsider its booking system at recycling centres altogether in the hope that making it simpler for people to access recycling centres will ease the strain on the local environment.

Hiring an ethical skip hire firm ensures your waste is taken to a site that will properly screen and sort it in order to avoid environmentally unfriendly (and illegal) disposal methods.

If you choose SunSkips for your skip hire, you don’t even need to sort your waste yourself as our screening line can pick out and separate metal, plastic, paper and even soil – and all for an unbeatable price too!

To have your waste removed smoothly, quickly and with the least amount of effort possible, book a skip online and let SunSkips take care of everything.