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Suffolk residents with a lot of waste to throw away don’t have to drive very far to find a local Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC).
And while it’s not the only method to sustainability get rid of large volumes of rubbish, Suffolk recycling centres are a mostly free way for people to dump their domestic waste.
But where are the recycling centres in Suffolk? Do you still need to book, or was that only during the pandemic? And what if you need to do a clear-out on a Wednesday?
Where are Suffolk’s recycling centres?
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If you’ve decided to cram your waste into your own vehicle and cart it off to one of Suffolk’s recycling centres, you’ll want to find the one closest to you to make the trip as efficient as possible.
Fortunately, there are 11 Suffolk recycling centres across the county:
- Bury St Edmunds, Fornham Road (IP31 1SJ)
- Felixstowe, Carr Road (IP11 3UT)
- Foxhall Road, Brightwell, Ipswich (IP10 0HT)
- Hadleigh, Crockett Road (IP7 6RD)
- Haverhill, off Chalkstone Way (CB9 7UR)
- Ipswich, Portman’s Walk (IP1 2DW)
- Leiston, Lovers Lane (IP16 4UJ)
- Lowestoft, Hadenham Road, South Lowestoft Industrial Estate (NR33 7NF)
- Mildenhall, off A1065 (IP28 7JQ)
- Stowmarket, Old Bury Road (IP14 3QB)
- Sudbury, Sandy Lane (CO10 7HG)
MORE: Ipswich waste disposal: Your options in order of convenience
But you can’t just turn up with your waste whenever you like, so it’s important to familiarise yourself with the Suffolk recycling centre timetables.
Suffolk recycling centre opening times
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Suffolk recycling centres are open six days a week. They’re all closed on Wednesdays.
Each of the 11 recycling centres in Suffolk adheres to the same timetable, which changes slightly with the seasons:
| April to September | October to March | |
| Monday | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 4pm |
| Tuesday | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 4pm |
| Wednesday | Closed | Closed |
| Thursday | 9am – 5pm
(open until 7pm from May to August) |
9am – 4pm |
| Friday | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 4pm |
| Saturday | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 4pm |
| Sunday and bank holidays | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 4pm |
All Suffolk recycling centres are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Booking slots to drop off your rubbish were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the practice has stuck, meaning residents can’t just turn up and expect to be able to offload without an appointment. Even with an appointment, you can expect queues to get in at peak times.
Suffolk recycling centres are subject to unforeseen closures, not only due to public health risks like the pandemic, but also adverse weather conditions. Check the Suffolk Recycling Twitter account for updates on site closures.
MORE: Skip hire vs recycling centre: The pros and cons
What types of waste can I take to a Suffolk recycling centre?
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The list of what you can take to a Suffolk HWRC is somewhat exhaustive. A complete, descriptive and searchable list can be found on the Suffolk Recycles website.
The most common waste items accepted at all Suffolk HWRCs are: Empty aerosol cans, batteries (including car batteries), paper and cardboard recycling, metal food and drink packaging, food and drink cartons, cooking oil, flat glass, furniture, garden waste, gas bottles, glass recycling (bottles and jars), hard plastics, large electrical appliances, light bulbs, metals, mobile phones, plastic bottles, tubs and food trays, printer cartridges, small electrical appliances, spectacles, Tassimo & L’OR coffee pods and packaging, TVs/monitors, wood and timber recycling (except sleepers), DIY waste (fees apply), and textiles.
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Residents are also free to take sofas and other soft seating – which is now classified as POPs waste and can’t be thrown in a skip – to any Suffolk recycling centre.
| While SunSkips can no longer accept sofas in its skips, we can arrange for a special collection. Call our team for a quote today. |
Some waste items carry a charge when taken to a Suffolk recycling centre, including hardcore, rubble, soil, plasterboard and bathroom renovation waste. DIY waste will soon be free to dispose of at any Suffolk HWRC, but a date for the new rule’s implementation has yet to be announced.
Small businesses are now able to bring waste to Suffolk HWRCs for a fee. The new scheme was designed for companies who do not generate enough waste to justify a regular commercial collection.
Anyone taking business waste to a Suffolk HWRC must carry a valid waste carrier licence and generate a waste transfer note.
| Businesses with infrequent waste disposal needs can save themselves a lot of hassle by hiring a skip as and when they need it. Suffolk businesses that hire a skip with SunSkips don’t need to worry about registering as a waste carrier or drawing up waste transfer notes, because it’s all taken care of for you and attached in a simple email. |
Some good quality items can be donated to be sold at one of Suffolk’s reuse shops at Bury St Edmunds and Foxhall HWRCs.
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Residents can donate working bikes, televisions/monitors, DVD players, games consoles, audio equipment, power tools, vacuum cleaners, and lawnmowers.
There are a few things that can’t be dropped off at any Suffolk recycling centre.
- Hazardous waste and clinical waste must be kept out of Suffolk HWRCs and handled by a specialist.
- Pet faeces (interestingly, vegetarian cat and dog waste is accepted for free, but only one bin liner’s worth a week).
- Wet paint (dry, empty cans are OK).
- Tyres and other car parts
MORE: What can’t you put in a skip?: A UK skip hire guide
What are the alternatives to HWRCs in Suffolk?
While Suffolk recycling centres offer an (often) free solution to waste disposal in the county, it’s not always practical to manage your waste yourself.
Hiring a skip saves you from having to dirty your car filling it with waste (assuming you have the space in the first place), instead providing you with a convenient container outside your property for you to fill at your leisure.
Standard skip rental periods are for seven days, meaning you don’t have to rush all your waste off to a site for a specific drop-off time.
Your skip hire can be dropped off or collected on a Wednesday (when recycling centres are closed) and items that even Suffolk HWRCs can’t take, like car tyres, can be collected by special arrangement.
Plus, with SunSkips, you can chuck everything in one container and rest assured that it will all be properly screened at one of our Suffolk sites in Ipswich, Haverhill or Stowmarket and as much of your waste will be recycled as possible.
Book your skip online or talk to our friendly team if you have any doubts about the most convenient and cost-effective skip solution for your needs.
